Adenoid image acquisition and processing method and device based on ultrasound and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses an adenoid image acquisition and processing method and device based on ultrasound and electronic equipment, and belongs to the technical field of medical information.The method comprises the following steps that S1, the body position is designed, the neck of a child patient is naturally stretched, and a scanning window of the submandibular area is exposed; s2, the scanning frequency and the scanning depth of an ultrasonic probe are set; s3, the ultrasonic probe is placed in the submandibular area of the child patient, and the long axis is parallel to the human sagittal plane as far as possible; s4, identifying the standardized anatomical markers from shallow to deep; s5, positioning the nares and adenoid bodies based on the standardized anatomical markers, automatically positioning the midline of the nasopharynx through clockwise or anticlockwise continuous scanning, and collecting ultrasonic pictures; and S6, according to the ultrasonic picture, obtaining the adenoid nasopharyngeal cavity proportion so as to confirm the blocking degree. According to the adenoid image acquisition and processing method based on ultrasound, the adenoid airway blocking degree can be judged, the process is noninvasive and nonradiative, recognition is accurate, and the method is suitable for screening and follow-up visit of child adenoid hypertrophy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method, apparatus, and electronic device for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound, belonging to the field of medical informatics technology. Background Technology

[0002] Adenoid hypertrophy is a common childhood condition caused by inflammation from various causes, leading to enlargement and hypertrophy of the adenoids located at the junction of the roof and posterior walls of the nasopharynx. This results in pathological changes and related symptoms. Although this condition primarily affects children, it can also occur in some adults. The main causes of adenoid hypertrophy are recurrent episodes of acute or chronic nasopharyngitis, or inflammation of the nasal cavity, sinuses, tonsils, etc., affecting the nasopharynx and stimulating adenoid tissue hyperplasia.

[0003] Current methods for examining adenoids in children typically employ invasive techniques such as nasal endoscopy, CT scans, and lateral X-rays. However, these methods generally suffer from low accuracy, lack of quantitative assessment, and the potential to cause varying degrees of harm. Ultrasound, as a non-invasive intra-hospital examination method, is a better alternative. However, due to the deep location of the adenoids, previous ultrasound techniques struggled to visualize them, only able to determine their thickness and failing to identify crucial clinical indicators, such as the adenoid size-to-airway ratio.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a high-resolution ultrasound image recognition method for adenoids that is less likely to cause harm to the human body, which can assess the degree of airway obstruction by identifying the ratio of adenoid size to nasopharyngeal airway. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a method, apparatus, and electronic device for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound. This method is non-invasive, radiation-free, and provides accurate identification, making it suitable for determining adenoid size and airway ratio in children.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives and effects, this application provides the following technical solution: This invention provides a method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound, comprising the following steps: S1, body positioning design, naturally stretches the child's neck, exposing the submandibular region scanning window; S2, set the scanning frequency and scanning depth of the ultrasound probe; S3, the ultrasound probe is placed in the submandibular region of the child and its long axis is as parallel as possible to the sagittal plane of the human body; S4, Identify standardized anatomical landmarks from superficial to deep; S5, based on standardized anatomical landmarks, locates the posterior nasal cavity and adenoids, and automatically determines the nasopharyngeal midline and acquires ultrasound images through continuous clockwise or counterclockwise scanning; S6. Based on a series of ultrasound images, the proportion of multiple standardized anatomical landmarks in the adenoid nasopharynx is obtained. Images close to the nasopharyngeal midline and the smallest proportion of the adenoid nasopharynx are automatically marked to confirm the degree of obstruction.

[0007] Preferably, the standardized anatomical landmarks in step S4, from shallow to deep, include the core landmarks of the tonsils, the core landmarks of the soft palate, the core landmarks of the junction of the hard and soft palate, the core landmarks of the posterior nasal region, and the core landmarks of the clivus.

[0008] Furthermore, step S5, quantifying the adenoid nasopharyngeal cavity proportion, includes the following steps: The thickness of the gas between the soft palate and the skull base plane is measured and denoted as a; Measure the width between the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates and record it as N; calculate The ratio quantifies the proportion of adenoids in the nasopharynx.

[0009] Furthermore, the measurement of the gas thickness 'a' between the soft palate and the skull base plane includes measuring the gas width in front of the most convex area of ​​the adenoid, with the posterior edge of the soft palate as the anterior boundary and the anterior edge of the soft tissue signal of the clivus as the posterior boundary.

[0010] Furthermore, the measurement of the width N between the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates includes measuring the width of the nasopharynx with the junction of the hard and soft palates as the anterior boundary and the posterior nasal cavity region as the posterior boundary.

[0011] Preferably, the positioning design in step S1 includes having the child sit with their head tilted back until the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is roughly parallel to the ground, or having them lie supine with their head tilted back until the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is roughly perpendicular to the ground.

[0012] The present invention also provides an ultrasound probe device, including an ultrasound probe, wherein the scanning frequency of the ultrasound probe is set in the range of 5-7.5MHz and the scanning depth is fixed at 7cm, and the ultrasound probe is used to perform any of the above-mentioned ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing methods.

[0013] The present invention also provides an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises: A processor; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to perform any of the above-described ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing methods.

[0014] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs, which, when executed by a processor, implement any of the above-described ultrasound-based methods for acquiring and processing adenoid images.

[0015] The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and electronic device for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound, which has the following advantages: 1. The ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing method of the present invention limits the child to a sitting or supine position with the head tilted back until the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is parallel to the horizontal plane. This position can naturally stretch the soft tissue of the nasopharynx, expose the scanning window of the submandibular region, reduce image artifacts caused by the child's uncomfortable position, and improve the cooperation of the examination.

[0016] 2. The ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing method of the present invention establishes repeatable anatomical landmark recognition rules in a "from superficial to deep" sequence using an ultrasound probe, quantifies the proportion of adenoids in the nasopharyngeal cavity, and achieves non-invasive, radiation-free, and accurate detection and screening, which is suitable for screening and follow-up of adenoid hypertrophy in children. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 A flowchart of an ultrasound-based method for acquiring and processing adenoid images provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of standardized anatomical landmark regions under ultrasound conditions in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a computer-readable medium provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 A method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound, comprising the following steps: S1, body positioning design, naturally stretches the child's neck, exposing the submandibular region scanning window; Specifically, the child should be seated or supine, with their head tilted back so that when seated, the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is roughly parallel to the ground, and when supine, the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is roughly perpendicular to the ground. That is, the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth are at the same level. This position can naturally stretch the soft tissues of the nasopharynx, expose the scanning window of the submandibular region, reduce image artifacts caused by the child's uncomfortable position, and improve the child's cooperation during the examination.

[0020] S2, set the scanning frequency and scanning depth of the ultrasound probe; First, select an ultrasound probe device for detection and screening. In feasible embodiments, the ultrasound probe can be a linear probe, a convex array probe, or other types of probes. In this embodiment, the ultrasound probe is preferably a linear probe, which has higher resolution than a convex array probe and is suitable for the superficial structure of the nasopharynx. Then, the scanning frequency of the ultrasound probe is set in the range of 5-7.5MHz, taking into account both penetration depth and resolution. It can cover a depth of 7cm and clearly display fine structures such as the soft palate and tonsils. The scanning depth is fixed at 7cm, covering the full-thickness structure of the nasopharynx from the submandibular gland to the posterior nasal cavity, without the need to repeatedly adjust the scanning depth.

[0021] S3, the ultrasound probe is placed in the submandibular region of the child and its long axis is as parallel as possible to the sagittal plane of the human body; Specifically, the ultrasound probe should be precisely positioned in the submandibular region of the child, that is, the soft tissue area between the lower edge of the mandible and the hyoid bone. The probe should be positioned so that its long axis is parallel to the sagittal plane of the human body, ensuring that the scanning section covers the midline structures of the nasopharynx and avoiding the omission of anatomical landmarks and inaccurate measurements due to deviation.

[0022] S4, Identify standardized anatomical landmarks from superficial to deep; Anatomical landmarks obtained by ultrasound probe scanning include: Submandibular gland: triangular-oval shape with medium echogenicity in the submandibular region; Tonsillar T: roundish hypoechoic with linear echogenic recesses; Soft palate S: uniform hypoechoic anterior wall of the nasopharynx; Hard and soft palate junction: the junction of the soft palate S and hard palate H, a slightly enhanced transition area; Posterior nasal region C: triangular arc-shaped strong echogenic boundary; Clivus c: linear strong echogenic boundary; Gas between soft palate and posterior nasal cavity: a strong echogenic band between the soft palate and posterior nasal cavity; Adenoid A.

[0023] The standardized anatomical landmarks, from superficial to deep, include the core landmarks of the tonsils, the core landmarks of the soft palate, the core landmarks of the junction of the soft and hard palate, the core landmarks of the posterior nasal region, the upper edge of the posterior nasal cavity, and the clivus. All of the above-mentioned standardized anatomical landmarks are ultrasound features based on literature specifications, and repeatable anatomical landmark identification rules are established in the order of "superficial to deep".

[0024] S5, based on standardized anatomical landmarks, locates the posterior nasal cavity and adenoids. Through continuous clockwise or counterclockwise scanning, it automatically determines the nasopharyngeal midline, acquires ultrasound images, and quantifies the proportion of adenoids in the nasopharyngeal cavity. Quantifying the adenoid nasopharyngeal cavity proportion includes the following steps: The gas thickness between the soft palate and the skull base plane is measured and denoted as a. Specifically, the gas thickness a between the soft palate and the skull base plane is the width of the gas in front of the most convex part of the adenoid, with the posterior edge of the soft palate as the anterior boundary and the anterior edge of the soft tissue signal of the clivus as the posterior boundary. The width between the upper edge of the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates is measured and recorded as N. Specifically, the width N between the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates is the width of the nasopharynx measured with the junction of the hard and soft palates as the anterior boundary and the posterior nasal cavity area as the posterior boundary. After measuring the gas thickness 'a' and the nasopharyngeal cavity width 'N', the formula is used: The ratio of the adenoids to the nasopharyngeal cavity is obtained, thus quantifying the proportion of the adenoids to the nasopharyngeal cavity.

[0025] The nasopharynx contains gas, while the soft tissues of the nasopharyngeal lateral walls do not. During image acquisition, by scanning clockwise or counterclockwise using the aforementioned characteristics, the left and right boundaries are identified. The angle between these two boundaries is defined as the area near the nasopharyngeal midline. By identifying the minimum proportion of the adenoids in the nasopharynx near this region, the proportion of the adenoids in the nasopharynx is determined. The identification and determination of these values ​​and regions can be dynamically displayed during image processing.

[0026] The image acquisition is performed by medical staff using the ultrasound equipment. The remaining measurements, ultrasound image acquisition, determination of the nasopharyngeal midline, and positioning and marking of standardized anatomical landmarks are all automatically completed by the built-in system of the ultrasound equipment. Specifically, the ultrasound equipment can automatically identify the position of the nasal midline and simultaneously mark the standardized anatomical landmarks with text and other auxiliary markings based on the principles of ultrasound emission, reflection, and reception, combined with image processing algorithms. These are all existing technologies and will not be elaborated on further.

[0027] S6, Comparison results of ultrasound images and clinical gold standards based on adenoid image acquisition and processing; Validated through hundreds of pediatric clinical controlled trials, and using Spearman correlation coefficient analysis, the results showed that ultrasound measurement... The correlation coefficient between the ratio and the clinical gold standard (nasal endoscopy measurement) was r=0.771, p<0.001, which is close to the correlation between the two methods and the measurement results. The correlation is statistically significant (excluding the influence of random error).

[0028] The measurement process of the ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing method of this invention is as follows: First, the core landmarks of the nasopharynx—tonsils, soft palate, hard palate junction, posterior nasal cavity region, the transition between the nasal cavity roof and nasopharynx, and the cleft—are identified to determine the extent of the nasopharynx. Then, interfering structures such as gas artifacts are eliminated to pinpoint the gas boundaries. Using the ultrasound equipment's built-in ranging function, the gas thickness *a* between the soft palate and the skull base plane, and the width *N* between the posterior nasal cavity and the hard palate junction are measured, automatically generating proportional results to avoid subjective human error. Through continuous clockwise or counterclockwise scanning, the location near the nasopharyngeal midline is automatically acquired.

[0029] This specification provides an ultrasound probe device, which includes an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe can be a linear probe or a convex array probe. Preferably, a linear probe has higher resolution than a convex array probe and is suitable for the superficial structures of the nasopharynx. The scanning frequency of the ultrasound probe is set in the range of 5-7.5MHz, taking into account both penetration depth and resolution. It can cover a depth of 7cm and clearly display fine structures such as the soft palate and tonsils. The scanning depth is fixed at 7cm, which precisely covers the full-thickness structure of the nasopharynx from the submandibular gland to the posterior nasal cavity, eliminating the need for repeated adjustments to the scanning depth.

[0030] The ultrasonic probe device in this embodiment of the invention is used in the prior art and will not be described in detail.

[0031] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of this specification also provide an electronic device.

[0032] The following describes embodiments of the electronic device of the present invention, which can be considered as specific implementations of the methods and apparatus embodiments of the present invention described above. Details described in the embodiments of the electronic device of the present invention should be considered as supplements to the methods or apparatus embodiments described above; details not disclosed in the embodiments of the electronic device of the present invention can be implemented with reference to the methods or apparatus embodiments described above.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device provided as an embodiment of this specification. Refer to the following... Figure 3 The electronic device 300 according to this embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 The electronic device 300 shown is merely an example and should not impose any limitations on the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, the electronic device 300 is presented in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The components of the electronic device 300 may include, but are not limited to: at least one processing unit 310, at least one storage unit 320, a bus 330 connecting different system components (including storage unit 320 and processing unit 310), a display unit 340, etc.

[0035] The storage unit stores program code that can be executed by the processing unit 310, causing the processing unit 310 to perform the steps described in the processing method section of this specification according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the processing unit 310 can perform, for example... Figure 1 The steps are shown.

[0036] The storage unit 320 may include a readable medium in the form of a volatile storage unit, such as a random access memory unit (RAM) 3201 and / or a cache storage unit 3202, and may further include a read-only memory unit (ROM) 3203.

[0037] The storage unit 320 may also include a program / utility 3204 having a set (at least one) program module 3205, such program module 3205 including but not limited to: an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules and program data, each or some combination of these examples may include an implementation of a network environment.

[0038] Bus 330 can represent one or more of several types of bus structures, including a memory cell bus or memory cell controller, a peripheral bus, a graphics acceleration port, a processing unit, or a local bus using any of the various bus structures.

[0039] Electronic device 300 can also communicate with one or more external devices 400 (e.g., keyboard, pointing device, Bluetooth device, etc.), and with one or more devices that enable viewers to interact with electronic device 300, and / or with any device that enables electronic device 300 to communicate with one or more other computing devices (e.g., router, modem, etc.). This communication can be performed via input / output (I / O) interface 350. Furthermore, electronic device 300 can also communicate with one or more networks (e.g., local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and / or public networks, such as the Internet) via network adapter 360. Network adapter 360 can communicate with other modules of electronic device 300 via bus 330. It should be understood that, although... Figure 3 As not shown, other hardware and / or software modules may be used in conjunction with electronic device 300, including but not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data backup storage systems.

[0040] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the exemplary embodiments described in this invention can be implemented by software or by combining software with necessary hardware. Therefore, the technical solutions according to the embodiments of this invention can be embodied in the form of a software product, which can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium (such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) or on a network, including several instructions to cause a computing device (such as a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the method described above according to this invention. When the computer program is executed by a data processing device, it enables the computer-readable medium to implement the method described above, i.e.: as... Figure 1 The method shown.

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a computer-readable medium provided for embodiments of this specification.

[0042] accomplish Figure 1 The computer program of the method shown can be stored on one or more computer-readable media. A computer-readable medium can be a readable signal medium or a readable storage medium. A readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of readable storage media (a non-exhaustive list) include: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable disk, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage device, magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0043] The computer-readable storage medium may include data signals propagated in baseband or as part of a carrier wave, carrying readable program code. Such propagated data signals may take various forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. The readable storage medium may also be any readable medium other than a readable storage medium, capable of transmitting, propagating, or transmitting programs for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The program code contained on the readable storage medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical fiber, RF, etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0044] Program code for performing the operations of this invention can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java and C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as C or similar languages. The program code can execute entirely on the audience's computing device, partially on the audience's device, as a standalone software package, partially on the audience's computing device and partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. In cases involving remote computing devices, the remote computing device can be connected to the audience's computing device via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computing device (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0045] In summary, this invention can be implemented in hardware, or as a software module running on one or more processors, or a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that in practice, general-purpose data processing devices such as microprocessors or digital signal processors (DSPs) can be used to implement some or all of the functions of some or all of the components according to the embodiments of the invention. This invention can also be implemented as a device or apparatus program (e.g., a computer program and computer program product) for performing part or all of the methods described herein. Such a program implementing the invention can be stored on a computer-readable medium, or can be in the form of one or more signals. Such signals can be downloaded from an Internet website, provided on a carrier signal, or provided in any other form. The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any form or substance. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and additions without departing from the present invention, and these improvements and additions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, alterations, and equivalent changes made by those skilled in the art based on the above-disclosed technical content without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are equivalent embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any modifications, alterations, and evolutions made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound, characterized in that, The procedure includes the following steps: S1, positioning the child's neck naturally and exposing the submandibular region for scanning; S2, setting the scanning frequency and depth of the ultrasound probe; S3, placing the ultrasound probe in the child's submandibular region with its long axis as parallel as possible to the sagittal plane; S4, identifying standardized anatomical landmarks from superficial to deep; S5, locating the posterior nasal cavity and adenoids based on standardized anatomical landmarks, continuously acquiring ultrasound images, and automatically locating the nasopharyngeal midline region; S6, automatically obtaining the proportion of the adenoids in the nasopharyngeal cavity based on the ultrasound images to confirm the degree of obstruction.

2. The method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The standardized anatomical landmarks in step S4, from shallow to deep, include the core landmarks of the tonsils, the core landmarks of the soft palate, the core landmarks of the junction of the hard and soft palate, the core landmarks of the posterior nasal region, and the core landmarks of the clivus.

3. The method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Step S5, which quantifies the adenoid nasopharyngeal cavity proportion, includes the following steps: The thickness of the gas between the soft palate and the skull base plane is measured and denoted as a; Measure the width between the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates and record it as N; calculate The ratio quantifies the proportion of adenoids in the nasopharynx.

4. The method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The measurement of the gas thickness 'a' between the soft palate and the skull base plane includes measuring the gas width in front of the most convex part of the adenoid, with the posterior edge of the soft palate as the anterior boundary and the anterior edge of the soft tissue signal of the clivus as the posterior boundary.

5. The method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The measurement of the width N between the posterior nasal cavity and the junction of the hard and soft palates includes measuring the width of the nasopharynx with the junction of the hard and soft palates as the anterior boundary and the posterior nasal cavity region as the posterior boundary.

6. The method for acquiring and processing adenoid images based on ultrasound as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning design in step S1 includes having the child sit with their head tilted back until the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is parallel to the ground, or having them lie supine with their head tilted back until the line connecting the external auditory canal and the corner of the mouth is perpendicular to the ground.

7. An ultrasonic probe device, characterized in that, The device includes an ultrasound probe, the scanning frequency of which is set in the range of 5-7.5MHz and the scanning depth is fixed at 7cm. The ultrasound probe is used to perform the ultrasound-based adenoid image acquisition and processing method as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. An electronic device, wherein, The electronic device includes: A processor; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, The computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs that, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any one of claims 1-6.

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