Medical imaging method, medical imaging system and non-transitory computer readable medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a medical imaging method, a medical imaging system and a non-transient computer readable medium. The medical imaging method comprises the following steps: controlling at least two medical imaging devices to communicate with each other; generating an imaging protocol for different to-be-imaged parts of the same to-be-imaged object, wherein the imaging protocol comprises distribution of the different to-be-imaged parts in the at least two medical imaging devices; and sending the imaging protocol to each of the at least two medical imaging devices. According to the invention, at least two medical imaging devices can work cooperatively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of medical equipment technology, and in particular, to a medical imaging method, a medical imaging system and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Background Art

[0002] Medical imaging equipment can obtain images of internal tissues of an object to be imaged in a non-invasive manner. For example, a scanning device of the medical imaging equipment can scan a predetermined part of the object to be imaged to obtain imaging data containing information of the predetermined part.

[0003] Common medical imaging equipment includes, for example, ultrasonic imaging systems, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, and computer tomography (CT) scanning systems.

[0004] It should be noted that the above introduction to the technical background is only intended to provide a clear and complete description of the technical solution of the present application and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0005] In some cases, it is necessary to scan multiple parts of the object to be imaged, and the type of scanning equipment (e.g., probe) or adjustment parameters may need to be adjusted for different parts. Scanners, such as doctors, usually need to plan a suitable scanning path and scan one by one. Such a scanning process will take a lot of time. In some scenarios, such as emergency scenarios, the problem of low scanning efficiency will be more prominent.

[0006] In order to solve at least one of the above technical problems or similar technical problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a medical imaging method, a medical imaging system and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In the medical imaging method, an imaging protocol is generated to include the allocation of different imaging parts of the same imaging object in at least two medical imaging devices, and the imaging protocol is sent to at least two medical imaging devices, so that at least two medical imaging devices can work together based on the imaging protocol.

[0007] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a medical imaging method is provided, the method comprising:

[0008] controlling at least two medical imaging devices to communicate with each other;

[0009] generating an imaging protocol for different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged, wherein the imaging protocol includes allocation of the different parts to be imaged in the at least two medical imaging devices; and

[0010] The imaging protocol is sent to each of the at least two medical imaging modalities.

[0011] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a medical imaging system is provided, wherein the medical imaging system comprises a first processor, and the first processor is configured to execute the medical imaging method as described in the above embodiment.

[0012] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a computer program, wherein the computer program has at least one code segment, and the at least one code segment can be executed by a machine so that the machine performs the steps of the method described in the above embodiment.

[0013] One of the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application is that: in the medical imaging method, an imaging protocol is generated to include the allocation of different parts to be imaged for the same object to be imaged in at least two medical imaging devices, and the imaging protocol is sent to at least two medical imaging devices, so that at least two medical imaging devices can work together based on the imaging protocol.

[0014] With reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, the specific implementation of the embodiment of the present application is disclosed in detail, indicating the way in which the principle of the embodiment of the present application can be adopted. It should be understood that the implementation of the present application is not limited in scope. Within the scope of the spirit and clauses of the attached claims, the implementation of the present application includes many changes, modifications and equivalents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The included drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present application, which constitute a part of the specification, are used to illustrate the implementation methods of the present application, and together with the text description, explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other implementation methods can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging method according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the usage scenario of this application;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the method of setting the master device;

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a screen displayed in a medical imaging device;

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the foregoing and other features of the embodiments of the present application will become apparent through the following description. In the description and the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the present application are specifically disclosed, which show some embodiments in which the principles of the embodiments of the present application can be adopted. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the described embodiments. On the contrary, the embodiments of the present application include all modifications, variations and equivalents that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

[0023] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish different elements in terms of title, but do not represent the spatial arrangement or temporal order of these elements, etc., and these elements should not be limited by these terms. The term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the terms listed in association. The terms "comprising", "including", "having", etc. refer to the presence of the stated features, elements, components or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components or components. The terms "pixel" and "voxel" are used interchangeably.

[0024] In the embodiments of the present application, the singular forms "a", "the", etc. include plural forms and should be broadly understood as "a kind" or "a type" rather than being limited to the meaning of "one"; in addition, the term "said" should be understood to include both singular and plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, the term "according to" should be understood as "at least in part according to...", and the term "based on" should be understood as "at least in part based on...", unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0025] Features described and / or shown for one embodiment may be used in one or more other embodiments in the same or similar manner, combined with features in other embodiments, or replace features in other embodiments. The term "includes / comprising" when used herein refers to the presence of a feature, an entirety, a step, or a component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, entireties, steps, or components.

[0026] Some embodiments of the present application provide a medical imaging method.

[0027] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a medical imaging method according to some embodiments of the present application. Figure 1 As shown, the medical imaging method comprises:

[0028] Operation 101: controlling at least two medical imaging devices to communicate with each other;

[0029] Operation 102: Generate an imaging protocol for different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged, wherein the imaging protocol includes allocation of the different parts to be imaged in the at least two medical imaging devices; and

[0030] Operation 103: Send the imaging protocol to each of the at least two medical imaging devices.

[0031] Such a configuration can ensure that the at least two medical imaging devices can each perform their own imaging functions and ensure efficient data processing, and the shared imaging protocol can ensure that the various medical imaging devices can cooperate with each other and optimize the workflow.

[0032] In the present application, the imaging protocol may include: the allocation of different parts to be imaged among at least two medical imaging devices (i.e., the scanning order of different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged by each medical imaging device), and / or information such as the scanning completion degree of different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged by each medical imaging device.

[0033] In at least one embodiment, the allocation of different parts to be imaged in at least two medical imaging devices may be, for example:

[0034] S1: Scanning the imaging part a by using the medical imaging device A, and scanning the imaging part b by using the medical imaging device B;

[0035] S2: After completing the scanning of the part a, use the medical imaging device A to scan the part c to be imaged;

[0036] S3: After completing the scanning of the part b, use the medical imaging device B to scan the part d to be imaged;

[0037] …

[0038] In at least one embodiment, the scanning completion degree may include, for example, imaging progress information and / or the imaging result information. The imaging progress information may include information such as whether the scanning of the imaging part is completed; the imaging result information may include information such as whether the scanning result of the imaging part is normal or abnormal; in addition, when the operator saves the medical image, the imaging result information may also include the saved medical image.

[0039] According to the medical imaging method of the present application, the imaging protocol is sent to at least two medical imaging devices, so the at least two medical imaging devices can work together based on the imaging protocol. In particular, when the medical imaging device does not have multiple scanning devices, or the multiple scanning devices of the medical imaging device cannot meet the scanning of multiple parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged, the medical imaging method of the present application can enable at least two medical imaging devices to work together, thereby overcoming the limitations of a single medical imaging device to meet the rapid scanning of multiple parts to be imaged of the object to be imaged.

[0040] In at least one embodiment, the medical imaging device is, for example, an ultrasound imaging system, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a computer tomography (CT) scanning system, etc. In the following description of the present application, the medical imaging device is an ultrasound imaging system as an example for description, but the contents of these descriptions are not limited to the ultrasound imaging system, and can also be applied to other types of medical imaging systems.

[0041] In a medical imaging device as an ultrasonic imaging system, the scanning device includes, for example, a probe, and the scanning device can transmit ultrasonic waves to the imaging part of the object to be imaged, and receive the echo of the ultrasonic waves, thereby obtaining imaging data. The imaging data can be used to generate a medical image, and the medical image currently scanned and obtained refers to a medical image (for example, an anatomical image of a specific section, etc.) that can reflect the state (for example, morphology) of the imaging part (for example, organs or tissues such as blood vessels and heart) of the object to be imaged at the current time (that is, in real time).

[0042] As described above in the present application, in a scenario where at least two medical imaging devices are required to scan different parts of the same object to be imaged, the implementation method of the present application will have a more obvious effect on the realization of the coordinated work of the at least two medical imaging devices. Below, the present application is explained in conjunction with a specific use scenario of a medical imaging device.

[0043] In the scenario of using ultrasound imaging equipment to perform focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) or extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST), based on the medical imaging method of the present application, an operator (e.g., a doctor) can use at least two medical imaging devices to scan different parts of the same object to be imaged, thereby overcoming the limitations of each medical imaging device and greatly improving the efficiency of the scanning.

[0044] Figure 2is a schematic diagram of this scenario. Figure 2 As shown, in this scenario, the operator 10A can use the scanning device 1A of the medical imaging device 100A to scan the object 10 to be imaged, and the operator 10B can use the scanning device 1B of the medical imaging device 100B to scan the object 10 to be imaged. The scanning device 1A and the scanning device 1B can be scanning devices of the same type, or scanning devices of different types. Figure 2 In the figure, only the case where there are two operators and two medical imaging devices is shown, but the present application is not limited to this, and the following description is also applicable to the case where the number of operators is more than three and the number of medical imaging devices is more than three.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the scanning device 1A and the scanning device 1B can simultaneously scan different parts of the object 10 to be imaged, thereby improving the scanning efficiency of multiple parts of the object 10 to be imaged.

[0046] In the embodiments of the present application, Figure 1 The illustrated medical imaging method may be performed under the control of a first processor.

[0047] In at least one embodiment, the first processor may be disposed in at least one of the at least two imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B), for example, the processor of one of the at least two imaging devices is used as the first processor, or part of the functions of the first processor are performed by the processor of one of the at least two imaging devices, and another part of the functions of the first processor are performed by the processor of the other of the at least two imaging devices.

[0048] In at least another embodiment, the first processor may be disposed outside the at least two imaging devices (eg, imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B), for example, the first processor is disposed in a cloud server and communicates with the at least two imaging devices via a wired or wireless network.

[0049] In an embodiment of the present application, at least one of the at least two imaging devices may be set as a master device, which may be used to process images, and / or receive information sent by other imaging devices, and / or control other imaging devices.

[0050] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of how to set up the master device. Figure 3 As shown, the method includes:

[0051] Operation 301: Acquire operation information of at least two medical imaging devices, where the operation information includes at least one of computing power information, health information, and power supply information;

[0052] Operation 302: Based on the operation information, control at least one of the at least two medical imaging devices to serve as a master device.

[0053] For example, the first processor can communicate with each of at least two medical imaging devices to obtain operating information of each medical imaging device (for example, the operating information may be at least one of computing power information, health information, and power supply information); then, the first processor selects the medical imaging device with the strongest computing power, and / or the highest health, and / or the most stable power supply (or, the most remaining battery power) as the main device based on the operating information.

[0054] For another example, when at least two medical imaging devices can communicate via wired or wireless means, they can send their own operating information to other medical imaging devices and receive operating information from other medical imaging devices (for example, the operating information may be at least one of computing power information, health information, and power supply information); then, comparisons and communications are performed using rules preset in each medical imaging device (for example, election rules, etc.) to determine the medical imaging device that serves as the master device.

[0055] In addition, the present application is not limited thereto, and the master device may be set by other methods. For example, an operator manually sets at least one medical imaging device as the master imaging device, or sets a certain priority for each medical imaging device, and sets the master device based on the priority (for example, when the at least two medical imaging devices include a medical imaging device with a higher priority and a medical imaging device with a lower priority, the medical imaging device with a higher priority is automatically set as the master device).

[0056] In this application, if Figure 2 As shown, the at least two imaging devices (eg, the imaging device 100A and the imaging device 100B) may communicate based on a certain communication protocol 20 .

[0057] In at least one embodiment, the first processor can control the medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) to communicate with each other based on a predetermined communication protocol; or, the first processor can select a communication protocol from at least two communication protocols for the medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) to communicate with each other.

[0058] For example, when the at least two imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) are started or under other conditions, each medical imaging device can independently communicate with the first processor using a communication protocol and inform the first processor of which communication protocols the medical imaging device is configured with; the first processor can select a common communication protocol that all medical imaging devices are configured with, and notify each medical imaging device of the selection result; each medical imaging device calls the common communication protocol according to the selection result sent by the first processor, and performs communication settings between medical imaging devices based on the common communication protocol. As a result, each medical imaging device can communicate with each other based on a common communication protocol, so that information can be sent in the form of broadcasting or the like.

[0059] For another example, when the at least two medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) are started up or under other conditions, each medical imaging device can independently communicate with the first processor using a communication protocol and inform the first processor which communication protocols the medical imaging device is configured with; if the medical imaging devices are not configured with a common communication protocol, the first processor can configure a common communication protocol for the medical imaging devices, so that the medical imaging devices can communicate with each other based on the common communication protocol; or, if the medical imaging devices are not configured with a common communication protocol, the controller can receive information from the medical imaging devices and forward the received information to other medical imaging devices, thereby realizing indirect communication among the medical imaging devices.

[0060] In the present application, at least two medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) communicate directly with each other, so that the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information of each medical imaging device can be sent to other medical imaging devices. Therefore, each medical imaging device can not only obtain its own imaging progress information and / or imaging result information, but also obtain the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information of other medical imaging devices. Thus, each medical imaging device can display its own imaging progress information and / or imaging result information on its own display or print it through a printer, and each medical imaging device can display its own imaging progress information and / or imaging result information on its own display or print it through a printer.

[0061] In addition, the present application is not limited thereto, and at least two medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) may also send their respective imaging progress information and / or imaging result information to the controller, and the controller sends the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information as an imaging protocol to other medical imaging devices. Thus, each medical imaging device obtains the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information of other medical imaging devices, and then displays or prints them.

[0062] Next, it is described how the first processor sets the allocation of different parts to be imaged among at least two medical imaging devices (ie, the scanning order of different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged by each medical imaging device).

[0063] When at least two medical imaging devices are started, the first processor generates an imaging protocol for different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged, and the imaging protocol includes information on the allocation of the different parts to be imaged in the at least two medical imaging devices.

[0064] The imaging protocol may be an initial imaging protocol, for example, the first processor sets the allocation of different parts to be imaged in at least two medical imaging devices according to the probe characteristics of each medical imaging device, or according to a default scanning order, thereby generating the initial imaging protocol. The initial imaging protocol is sent to at least two medical imaging devices (for example, imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B), whereby each medical imaging device can work according to the imaging protocol, for example, each medical imaging device displays the information of the current part to be imaged of the medical imaging device on its respective display, and in addition, the respective display of each medical imaging device can also display the information of the current part to be imaged of other medical imaging devices.

[0065] In at least one embodiment, the allocation of different parts to be imaged in the initial imaging protocol to at least two medical imaging devices may be, for example:

[0066] S1: Scanning the imaging part a by using the medical imaging device 100A, and at the same time, scanning the imaging part b by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0067] S2: After completing the scanning of the part a, the medical imaging device 100A is used to scan the part c to be imaged;

[0068] S3: After completing the scanning of the part b, the part d to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0069] S4: After completing the scanning of the part c, the part e to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100A;

[0070] S5: After completing the scanning of the part d, the part f to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0071] …

[0072] During the imaging process of each medical imaging device (eg, the imaging device 100A or the imaging device 100B), the first processor may perform the following steps: Figure 1 The following operations are shown:

[0073] Operation 104: receiving imaging progress information of at least one medical imaging device;

[0074] Operation 105: updating the imaging protocol for the at least one medical imaging device based on the imaging progress information;

[0075] Operation 106 : Send the updated imaging protocol to each of the at least two medical imaging devices.

[0076] In operation 104 , after completing imaging of the current part to be imaged, each medical imaging device (eg, imaging device 100A or imaging device 100B) may send imaging progress information to the first processor.

[0077] In operation 105, when the first processor receives the imaging progress information, it can determine whether the imaging (i.e., scanning) of the current part to be imaged by the medical imaging device is completed, and if completed, the imaging protocol will be updated. The allocation of different parts to be imaged in the imaging protocol to the at least two medical imaging devices can be updated.

[0078] For example, if the scanning time for part a is longer and the scanning time for part b is shorter, then after the scanning of part b is completed, the allocation of the imaging parts in at least two medical imaging devices is updated to the following form:

[0079] S1: Scanning the imaging part a by using the medical imaging device 100A, and at the same time, scanning the imaging part d by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0080] S2: After completing the scanning of the part a, the medical imaging device 100A is used to scan the part c to be imaged;

[0081] S3: After completing the scanning of the part d, the part f to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0082] S4: After completing the scanning of the part c, the part e to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100A;

[0083] …

[0084] For another example, if the scanning time for part a is longer, and the scanning time for part b is shorter, and part c can also be scanned using the scanning device 10B of the imaging device 100B, then after the scanning of part b is completed, the allocation of the imaging parts in the at least two medical imaging devices is updated to the following form:

[0085] S1: Scanning the imaging part a by using the medical imaging device 100A, and at the same time, scanning the imaging part c by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0086] S2: After completing the scanning of the part a, the part e to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100A;

[0087] S3: After completing the scanning of the part c, the part d to be imaged is scanned by using the medical imaging device 100B;

[0088] …

[0089] In addition, in operation 105, the updated imaging protocol may further include imaging progress information and / or imaging result information sent by each medical imaging device (eg, the imaging device 100A or the imaging device 100B) to the first processor.

[0090] In operation 106, the first processor may send an updated imaging protocol to each of the at least two medical imaging devices (e.g., the imaging device 100A and the imaging device 100B). The updated imaging protocol includes updated allocations of imaging sites in the at least two medical imaging devices, and the updated imaging protocol may also include imaging progress information and / or imaging result information sent to the first processor by each medical imaging device (e.g., the imaging device 100A or the imaging device 100B).

[0091] In the present application, when each of at least two medical imaging devices (e.g., imaging device 100A and imaging device 100B) receives an updated imaging protocol, each medical imaging device will scan according to the allocation of imaging sites in the at least two medical imaging devices in the updated imaging protocol (i.e., scanning order), and display the information of the current site to be imaged allocated to the medical imaging device on the display of the medical imaging device. In addition, each medical imaging device can also display the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information of other medical imaging devices according to the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information in the updated imaging protocol.

[0092] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the screen displayed in a medical imaging device, for example, Figure 4The schematic diagram may be a screen displayed on the display of the imaging device 100A or the display of the imaging device 100B.

[0093] like Figure 4 As shown, at time T1, the image 400A shows the part A to be imaged currently being imaged by the scanning device 10A and the part B to be imaged currently being imaged by the scanning device 10B, wherein the icons A and B can be highlighted to emphasize the part to be imaged currently being imaged. For example, the icons A and B can be displayed; in the image 400A, the arrow 401 points to the next part to be imaged of the scanning device 10B, and the icon 41 indicates the part to be imaged of the object to be imaged that has not yet been imaged.

[0094] like Figure 4 As shown, at time T2, the screen switches to 400B, wherein the arrow 402 points to the next part to be imaged of the scanning device 10A, the part to be imaged currently being imaged by the scanning device 10B is B, and the icon 42 is used to indicate the first imaging result information of the imaged part, for example, the first imaging result information indicates that the imaging result for the imaged part is "abnormality exists"; the icon 41 indicates the part to be imaged of the object to be imaged that has not yet been imaged.

[0095] like Figure 4 As shown, at time T3, the screen switches to 400C, wherein the arrow 403 points to the next part to be imaged of the scanning device 10B, the part to be imaged currently being imaged by the scanning device 10A is A, and the icon 43 is used to indicate the second imaging result information of the imaged part, for example, the second imaging result information indicates that the imaging result for the imaged part is "normal"; the icon 41 indicates the part to be imaged of the object to be imaged that has not yet been imaged.

[0096] like Figure 4 As shown, at time T4, the screen switches to 400D, wherein arrow 404 points to the next part to be imaged of scanning device 10A, the part to be imaged currently being imaged by scanning device 10B is A, icon 41 indicates the part to be imaged of the object to be imaged which has not yet been imaged, icon 42 is used to indicate the first imaging result information of the imaged part, and icon 43 is used to indicate the second imaging result information of the imaged part.

[0097] like Figure 4 As shown, at time T5, the screen switches to 400E, wherein arrow 405 points to the next part to be imaged of scanning device 10B, the part to be imaged currently being imaged by scanning device 10A is A, icon 41 indicates the part to be imaged of the object to be imaged which has not yet been imaged, icon 42 is used to indicate the first imaging result information of the imaged part, and icon 43 is used to indicate the second imaging result information of the imaged part.

[0098] exist Figure 4 In the example, icon 41 is a solid circle, icon 42 is a combination of a circle and an exclamation mark, and icon 43 is a combination of a circle and a check mark. The present application is not limited thereto, as long as icons 41, 42, and 43 can be visually distinguished from each other, for example, icons 41, 42, and 43 can differ in at least one aspect, such as display shape, display color, and flashing frequency.

[0099] After imaging of all the parts of the object to be imaged is completed, the following image can be generated: Figure 4 The screen 400F shown in the figure may represent the imaging result information of all the parts to be imaged of the object to be imaged. Since each medical imaging device sends imaging progress information and imaging result information to other medical imaging devices, and each medical imaging device receives imaging progress information and imaging result information from other medical imaging devices, each medical imaging device may obtain the information of the screen 400F, and thus display the imaging result information of all the parts to be imaged of the object to be imaged on its own display or print it using a printer.

[0100] In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, when the operator uses the scanning device (for example, the scanning device 10A, 10B) to image the part to be imaged, the operator can operate the first button of the scanning device (for example, press the first button) to generate imaging progress information to indicate that the imaging of the current part to be imaged is completed. In addition, the operator can also operate the second button of the scanning device to generate imaging result information. For example, if the operator presses the second button once, it means that the imaging result of the part to be imaged is "normal"; if the operator presses the second button more than twice within a predetermined time period, it means that the imaging result of the part to be imaged is "abnormal", and the medical imaging device can save the medical image of the part to be imaged as part of the imaging result information, so that each medical imaging device can obtain the medical image saved by the medical imaging device and the medical image saved by other medical imaging devices, which can be displayed on their respective displays or printed by a printer.

[0101] Some embodiments of the present application also provide a medical imaging system.

[0102] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0103] like Figure 5The medical imaging system 110 shown may include a first processor 111. The first processor 111 can control at least two medical imaging devices 100, thereby implementing the medical imaging method described in any of the above embodiments. In some embodiments, the medical imaging system 110 may be independent of the medical imaging device 100. It may be connected to the medical imaging device 100 by wire or wirelessly, and the first processor 111 therein executes the method of any of the above embodiments of the present application to control imaging.

[0104] In some other embodiments, the medical imaging system 110 may further include a medical imaging device 100. The medical imaging device 100 is, for example, Figure 2 The medical imaging device 100A or 100B shown in FIG. Figure 5 , a medical imaging device 100 is described, which is applicable to, for example, Figure 2 The medical imaging devices 100A and 100B shown

[0105] like Figure 5 As shown, the medical imaging device 100 includes suitable hardware, software, or a combination thereof for supporting medical imaging (i.e., enabling data for generating and / or rendering images during a medical imaging examination to be obtained). For example, the medical imaging device 100 may be an ultrasound system or a magnetic resonance system configured to generate and / or render ultrasound images, etc.

[0106] like Figure 5 As shown, the medical imaging device 100 may include a scanning device 110 , a display 114 , and a processor 113 , and the scanning device may be portable and movable.

[0107] In at least one embodiment of the present application, the first processor 111 may be provided in at least one of the at least two imaging devices 100. For example, the processor 113 of one of the at least two imaging devices 100 is used as the first processor 111. In this case, one of the at least two imaging devices 100 may be regarded as a medical imaging system 110. Alternatively, a part of the functions of the first processor 111 is performed by the processor 113 of one of the at least two imaging devices, and another part of the functions of the first processor 111 is performed by the processor 113 of another of the at least two imaging devices. In this case, the at least two imaging devices as a whole may be regarded as a medical imaging system 110.

[0108] The scanning device 1 may be configured to generate and / or capture a specific type of imaging signal (and / or data corresponding thereto), such as by moving over an object to be imaged (or a portion thereof), and may include suitable circuits for performing and / or supporting such functions. The scanning device 1 may be an ultrasound probe, an MRI scanner, a CT scanner, or any suitable imaging device. In the case where the medical imaging device 100 is an ultrasound system, the scanning device 1 may transmit an ultrasound signal and capture an echo ultrasound image, for example, the scanning device 1 may be a patch probe. For a description of the patch probe, for example, reference may be made to the patent document with publication number CN 109419530 A, etc.

[0109] In this application, if Figure 5 The illustrated medical imaging device 100 includes suitable hardware, software, or a combination thereof for supporting medical imaging (i.e., enabling data to be obtained for generating and / or rendering images during a medical imaging examination). For example, the medical imaging device 100 may be an ultrasound imaging system or a magnetic resonance system, etc., configured to generate and / or render ultrasound images.

[0110] The display 114 may be configured to display an image (e.g., via a screen). In some cases, the display 114 may also be configured to generate, at least in part, the displayed image. In addition, the display 114 may also support user input / output. For example, in addition to the image, the display 114 may also provide (e.g., via a screen) user feedback (e.g., information related to the system, its functions, its settings, etc.). The display 114 may also support user input (e.g., via user controls 118), such as to allow control of medical imaging. User input may involve controlling the display of an image, selecting settings, specifying user preferences, requesting feedback, etc. The display 114 may receive a signal from a processor and display it.

[0111] For example, the display 114 may display Figure 4 As shown in the screens 400A to 400F, the operator of each medical imaging device 100 can grasp the imaging progress information and / or imaging result information of the medical imaging device and other medical imaging devices through the screen, thereby facilitating the use of multiple medical imaging devices for collaborative work to improve the efficiency of scanning.

[0112] In some embodiments, the medical imaging device 100 may also incorporate additional and dedicated computing resources, such as one or more computing systems 120. In this regard, each computing system 120 may include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic and / or code for processing, storing and / or communicating data. The computing system 120 may be a dedicated device configured for use in particular in conjunction with medical imaging, or it may be a general-purpose computing system (e.g., a personal computer, a server, etc.) that is configured and / or configured to perform the operations described below with respect to the computing system 120. The computing system 120 may be configured to support the operation of the medical imaging device 100, as described below. In this regard, various functions and / or operations may be offloaded from the imaging system. Doing so may simplify and / or centralize certain aspects of processing to reduce costs (by eliminating the need to increase processing resources in the imaging system).

[0113] The computing system 120 can be configured and / or arranged for use in different ways. For example, in some implementations, a single computing system 120 can be used; in other implementations, multiple computing systems 120 are configured to work together (e.g., based on a distributed processing configuration), or work separately, where each computing system 120 is configured to handle specific aspects and / or functions, and / or process data only for a specific medical imaging device 100.

[0114] In some embodiments, the computing system 120 can be local (e.g., co-located with one or more medical imaging devices 100, such as within the same facility and / or the same local network); in other implementations, the computing system 120 can be remote and thus accessible only via a remote connection (e.g., via the Internet or other available remote access technology). In certain implementations, the computing system 120 can be configured in a cloud-based manner and can be accessed and / or used in a manner substantially similar to accessing and using other cloud-based systems.

[0115] Once the data is generated and / or configured in the computing system 120, the data can be copied and / or loaded into the medical imaging device 100. This can be done in different ways. For example, the data can be loaded via a directional connection or link between the medical imaging device 100 and the computing system 120. In this regard, the communication between the different elements in the setting can be carried out using available wired and / or wireless connections and / or according to any suitable communication (and / or networking) standards or protocols. Alternatively or additionally, the data can be loaded into the medical imaging device 100 indirectly. For example, the data can be stored in a suitable machine-readable medium (e.g., a flash card, etc.), and then the machine-readable medium is used to load the data into the medical imaging device 100 (on-site, such as by a user of the system (e.g., an imaging clinician) or an authorized person); or the data can be downloaded to a local electronic device capable of communication (e.g., a laptop, etc.), and then the electronic device is used on-site (e.g., by a user of the system or an authorized person) to upload the data to the medical imaging device 100 via a direct connection (e.g., a USB connector, etc.).

[0116] In operation, the medical imaging device 100 can be used to generate and present (e.g., render or display) images during a medical examination, and / or to support user input / output in conjunction therewith. The images can be 2D, 3D, and / or 4D images. The specific operations or functions performed in the medical imaging device 100 to facilitate the generation and / or presentation of the images depend on the type of system (i.e., the manner in which the data corresponding to the images is obtained and / or generated). For example, in ultrasound imaging, the data is based on transmitted ultrasound signals and echoed ultrasound signals.

[0117] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of an ultrasonic imaging system according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the ultrasound imaging system 200 may be configured to provide ultrasound imaging and may therefore include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic and / or code for performing and / or supporting ultrasound imaging related functions. The ultrasound imaging system 200 may correspond to Figure 5 A medical imaging device 100 or a medical imaging system 110 .

[0118] The ultrasound imaging system 200 includes, for example, a transmitter 202, an ultrasound probe 204 (corresponding to the aforementioned scanning device 1), a transmit beamformer 210, a receiver 218, a receive beamformer 220, an RF processor 224, an RF / IQ buffer 226, a user input module 230, a signal processor 240 (corresponding to the aforementioned processor 114), an image buffer 250, a display system 260 (display), and an archive 270.

[0119] The transmitter 202 may include suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic and / or code operable to drive an ultrasound probe 204. The ultrasound probe 204 may include a two-dimensional (2D) array of piezoelectric elements. The ultrasound probe 204 may include a set of transmit transducer elements 206 and a set of receive transducer elements 208 that are generally constructed as identical elements. In certain embodiments, the ultrasound probe 204 may be operable to acquire ultrasound image data covering at least a substantial portion of an anatomical structure, such as a heart or any suitable anatomical structure.

[0120] The transmit beamformer 210 may include suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic and / or code operable to control the transmitter 202, which drives the set of transmit transducer elements 206 via the transmit sub-aperture beamformer 214 to transmit ultrasound transmit signals into an area of ​​interest (e.g., a person, an animal, an underground cavity, a physical structure, etc.). The transmitted ultrasound signals may be backscattered from structures (e.g., blood cells or tissue) in the object of interest to produce echoes. The echoes are received by the receive transducer elements 208.

[0121] The set of receive transducer elements 208 in the ultrasound probe 204 may be operable to convert received echoes into analog signals, which are sub-aperture beamformed by the receive sub-aperture beamformer 216 and then transmitted to the receiver 218. The receiver 218 may include suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and / or code that may be operable to receive the signals from the receive sub-aperture beamformer 216. The analog signals may be transmitted to one or more of the plurality of A / D converters 222.

[0122] The plurality of A / D converters 222 may include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic, and / or code that are operable to convert analog signals from the receiver 218 into corresponding digital signals. The plurality of A / D converters 222 are disposed between the receiver 218 and the RF processor 224. Nevertheless, the present application is not limited in this regard. Therefore, in some embodiments, the plurality of A / D converters 222 may be integrated within the receiver 218.

[0123] The RF processor 224 may include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic, and / or code that may be operable to demodulate the digital signals output by the plurality of A / D converters 222. According to one embodiment, the RF processor 224 may include a complex demodulator (not shown) that may be operable to demodulate the digital signals to form I / Q data pairs representing corresponding echo signals. The RF or I / Q signal data may then be transferred to the RF / IQ buffer 226. The RF / IQ buffer 226 may include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic, and / or code that may be operable to provide temporary storage of the RF or I / Q signal data generated by the RF processor 224.

[0124] The receive beamformer 220 may include suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and / or code operable to perform digital beamforming processing to, for example, sum delayed channel signals received from the RF processor 224 via the RF / IQ buffer 226 and output a beam summed signal. The resulting processed information may be a beam summed signal output from the receive beamformer 220 and communicated to the signal processor 240. According to some embodiments, the receiver 218, the plurality of A / D converters 222, the RF processor 224, and the beamformer 220 may be integrated into a single beamformer, which may be digital. In various embodiments, the ultrasound imaging system 200 includes a plurality of receive beamformers 220.

[0125] The user input device 230 may be used to input patient data, scan parameters, settings, select protocols and / or templates, interact with the artificial intelligence segmentation processor to select tracking targets, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the user input device 230 is operable to configure, manage, and / or control the operation of one or more components and / or modules in the ultrasound imaging system 200. In this regard, the user input device 230 is operable to configure, manage, and / or control the operation of the transmitter 202, the ultrasound probe 204, the transmit beamformer 210, the receiver 218, the receive beamformer 220, the RF processor 224, the RF / IQ buffer 226, the user input device 230, the signal processor 240, the image buffer 250, the display system 260, and / or the archive 270.

[0126] For example, the user input device 230 may include a button, a rotary encoder, a touch screen, motion tracking, voice recognition, a mouse device, a keyboard, a trackball, a camera, and / or any other device capable of receiving user instructions. In certain embodiments, for example, one or more user input devices in the user input device 230 may be integrated into other components (such as a display system 260 or an ultrasound probe 204). As an example, the user input device 230 may include a touch screen display. As another example, the user input device 230 may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and / or a magnetometer attached to and / or integrated with the probe 204 to provide gesture motion recognition of the probe 204, such as identifying one or more probe compressions against the patient's body, predefined probe movement or tilt operations, etc. Additionally and / or alternatively, the user input device 230 may include image analysis processing to identify the probe posture by analyzing the collected image data.

[0127] The signal processor 240 may include suitable circuits, interfaces, logic and / or codes that are operable to process ultrasound scan data (i.e., summed IQ signals) to generate ultrasound images for presentation on the display system 260. The signal processor 240 is operable to perform one or more processing operations based on a plurality of selectable ultrasound modalities on the acquired ultrasound scan data. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal processor 240 is operable to perform display processing and / or control processing, etc. The acquired ultrasound scan data may be processed in real time during a scanning session as echo signals are received. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasound scan data may be temporarily stored in the RF / IQ buffer 226 during the scanning session and processed in a less real-time manner in an online or offline operation. In various embodiments, the processed image data may be presented at the display system 260 and / or may be stored at the archive 270. The archive 270 may be a local archive, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), or any suitable device for storing images and related information.

[0128] The signal processor 240 may be one or more central processing units, microprocessors, microcontrollers, etc. For example, the signal processor 240 may be an integrated component, or may be distributed in various locations. The signal processor 240 may be configured to receive input information from the user input device 230 and / or the archive 270, generate output that can be displayed by the display system 260, and manipulate the output in response to the input information from the user input device 230, etc. The signal processor 240 may be capable of executing, for example, any of the one or more methods and / or one or more instruction sets discussed herein according to various embodiments.

[0129] The ultrasound imaging system 200 is operable to continuously acquire ultrasound scan data at a frame rate suitable for the imaging situation under consideration. Typical frame rates are in the range of 20 to 220, but may be lower or higher. The acquired ultrasound scan data may be displayed in real time on the display system 260 at the same, or slower or faster display rate as the frame rate. An image buffer 250 is included for storing processed frames of acquired ultrasound scan data that are not scheduled for immediate display. Preferably, the image buffer 250 has sufficient capacity to store frames of ultrasound scan data for at least several minutes. The frames of ultrasound scan data are stored in a manner that is easy to retrieve therefrom according to their acquisition order or time. The image buffer 250 may be embodied as any known data storage medium.

[0130] In some implementations, the signal processor 240 can be configured to perform or otherwise control at least some of the functions performed thereby based on user instructions via the user input device 230. As an example, a user can provide voice commands, probe gestures, button presses, etc. to issue specific instructions, such as controlling various aspects of automatic strain measurement and strain ratio calculation, and / or providing or otherwise specifying various parameters or settings related thereto, as described in more detail below.

[0131] In operation, the ultrasound imaging system 200 can be used to generate ultrasound images, including two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D) and / or four-dimensional (4D) images. In this regard, the ultrasound imaging system 200 is operable to continuously acquire ultrasound scan data at a specific frame rate, which can be applicable to the imaging situation in question. For example, the frame rate can be in the range of 20-70, and can also be lower or higher. The acquired ultrasound scan data can be displayed on the display system 260 at a display rate that is the same as the frame rate, or slower or faster. The image buffer 250 is included to store processed frames of the acquired ultrasound scan data that are not scheduled for immediate display. Preferably, the image buffer 250 has sufficient capacity to store frames of ultrasound scan data for at least a few seconds. The frames of ultrasound scan data are stored in a manner that is easy to retrieve from them according to their acquisition order or time. The image buffer 250 can be embodied as any known data storage medium.

[0132] In some cases, the ultrasound imaging system 200 may be configured to support grayscale and color-based operations. For example, the signal processor 240 may be operable to perform grayscale B-model processing and / or color processing. Grayscale B-model processing may include processing B-model RF signal data or IQ data pairs. For example, grayscale B-model processing may enable the calculation of the amount (I 2 +Q 2 ) 1 / 2The envelope of the beam-summed receive signal can be formed. The envelope can be subjected to additional B-model processing, such as logarithmic compression to form display data. The display data can be converted to an XY format for video display. The scan converted frame can be mapped to grayscale for display. The B-model frame is provided to the image buffer 250 and / or the display system 260. The color processing may include processing color-based RF signal data or IQ data pairs to form a frame to cover the B-model frame provided to the image buffer 250 and / or the display system 260. The grayscale and / or color processing can be adaptively adjusted based on user input (e.g., selection from the user input device 230), for example, to enhance the grayscale and / or color of a specific area.

[0133] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable program, wherein when the program is executed, the program enables a computer to execute the medical imaging method described in any of the aforementioned embodiments in a medical imaging system.

[0134] An embodiment of the present application further provides a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program enables a computer to execute the medical imaging method described in any of the aforementioned embodiments in a medical imaging system.

[0135] A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a computer program having at least one code segment, wherein the at least one code segment can be executed by a machine so that the machine performs the medical imaging method described in any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0136] The above embodiments are merely exemplary of the embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto, and appropriate modifications may be made based on the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments may be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments may be combined.

[0137] The present application is described above in conjunction with specific implementation methods, but it should be clear to those skilled in the art that these descriptions are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present application based on the spirit and principles of the present application, and these modifications and variations are also within the scope of the present application.

[0138] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many features and advantages of these embodiments are clear from this detailed description, and therefore the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of these embodiments that fall within their true spirit and scope. In addition, since many modifications and variations are easily conceivable to those skilled in the art, the embodiments of the present application are not intended to be limited to the precise structures and operations illustrated and described, but all suitable modifications, variations, and equivalents that fall within their scope may be covered.

Claims

1. A medical imaging method, characterized in that: The method comprises: controlling at least two medical imaging devices to communicate with each other; generating an imaging protocol for different parts to be imaged of the same object to be imaged, wherein the imaging protocol includes allocation of the different parts to be imaged in the at least two medical imaging devices; and The imaging protocol is sent to each of the at least two medical imaging modalities.

2. The medical imaging method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: Acquiring operation information of the at least two medical imaging devices, the operation information comprising at least one of computing power information, health information, and power supply information; and Based on the operation information, at least one of the at least two medical imaging devices is controlled to serve as a master device.

3. The medical imaging method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving imaging progress information of at least one of the medical imaging devices; and Based on the imaging progress information, the imaging protocol is updated for the at least one medical imaging device.

4. The medical imaging method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The updated imaging protocol is sent to each of the at least two medical imaging modalities.

5. The medical imaging method according to claim 1, wherein: The imaging protocol also includes imaging progress information and / or imaging result information.

6. The medical imaging method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Control at least one of the medical imaging devices to display or output the received imaging progress information and / or the imaging result information.

7. The medical imaging method according to claim 1, wherein: The communication includes: controlling the medical imaging devices to communicate with each other based on a predetermined communication protocol; or, A communication protocol is selected from at least two communication protocols for the medical imaging devices to communicate with each other.

8. A medical imaging system, characterized in that: The medical imaging system comprises a first processor configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-7.

9. The medical imaging system of claim 8, wherein: The medical imaging system further comprises: At least two medical imaging devices, each of which includes a scanning device and a display device, wherein the scanning device is used to scan at least one part to be imaged of the object to be imaged to obtain imaging data containing information of the part to be imaged, and the display device is used to receive and display the signal from the first processor.

10. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein: The medical imaging device comprises an ultrasound imaging device comprising at least one patch probe.

11. The medical imaging system of claim 9, wherein: The first processor is disposed in at least one of the at least two medical imaging devices, or the first processor is disposed outside the at least two medical imaging devices.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program has at least one code segment, and the at least one code segment can be executed by a machine to enable the machine to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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