Automated M-Mode Line Ranking for Reduced-Exposure Fetal Cardiac Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing fetal cardiac activity, such as Doppler-based ultrasound techniques, expose the fetus to significant ultrasound radiation, increasing the risk of pregnancy failure, and lack accuracy in detecting fetal heart rate and irregularities.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that generates M-mode data by automatically identifying a region of interest containing the fetal heart in ultrasound images, positions multiple M-mode lines, and ranks them based on quality measures derived from their data to facilitate accurate fetal heart rate assessment, reducing fetal exposure to ultrasound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Doppler-based ultrasound techniques are used to measure blood flow to the heart, then fetal cardiac activity can be assessed, but significant exposure of ultrasound to the embryo/fetus occurs, which increases the risk of pregnancy failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the essential M-mode data from the ultrasound images, specifically analyzing the motion patterns of the fetal heart along predefined lines. By focusing on extracting only the necessary cardiac motion information rather than using comprehensive Doppler scanning, the system reduces overall ultrasound exposure while maintaining accurate cardiac activity assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of the fetal heart region and pre-positioning of M-mode lines before actual data acquisition. By automatically detecting the heart location and preparing the measurement configuration in advance, the system minimizes the duration and intensity of ultrasound exposure required during the actual cardiac activity measurement.
2Measurement precision
If automated detection of fetal heart region and M-mode line positioning is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of fetal cardiac analysis into distinct functional modules: (1) automatic detection of the fetal heart region, (2) identification and positioning of multiple M-mode lines, (3) acquisition of M-mode data along these lines, and (4) determination of fetal heart rate. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and reduces overall system complexity by breaking down the complex measurement process into manageable steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates multiple virtual copies of M-mode measurement lines at different positions and orientations across the fetal heart region. Instead of requiring a single complex measurement system, multiple simplified M-mode lines are generated and processed independently, then combined to provide comprehensive cardiac assessment. This copying approach simplifies the processing by allowing parallel analysis of multiple measurement paths.
3Measurement precision
If multiple M-mode lines are positioned and processed to improve data accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic detection of the fetal heart region and pre-calculates the optimal positions and orientations of multiple M-mode lines before actual data acquisition. By preparing all measurement configurations in advance based on the detected heart anatomy, the system eliminates time-consuming manual positioning and reduces real-time processing delays, thereby accelerating data collection while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous acquisition of M-mode data along multiple lines simultaneously, rather than sequentially processing each line individually. By maintaining continuous scanning and processing of all M-mode lines in parallel, the system maximizes data collection efficiency and reduces total measurement time while preserving the accuracy benefits of multi-line analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for quicker and more accurate acquisition of M-mode data for fetal cardiac activity assessment, reducing fetal ultrasound exposure and enhancing clinical decision-making by providing a ranked set of M-mode lines for verification.
Implementation Method 1
receive, from an ultrasound imaging apparatus, a sequence of ultrasound images
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for automatically generating and ranking M-mode lines for generating or defining M-mode data usable to assess fetal heart activity, e.g. determine a fetal heart rate. A region of interest, containing a fetal heart, in a sequence of ultrasound images is identified. The region of interest is used to define the position of each of a plurality of M-mode lines, e.g. anatomical M-mode lines. A quality measure of each M-mode line is determined based on M-mode data generated for each M-mode line, and the quality measures are then used to rank the M-mode lines.