Ultrasound Bladder Size Analysis for Lower Abdomen Organ Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasound diagnostic systems lack the ability to efficiently determine the presence of organs other than the bladder in the lower abdomen, leading to potential omissions in necessary examinations.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method that analyzes bladder size from ultrasound image data to determine the presence of additional organs, such as the prostate and kidneys, and provides guidance for subsequent examinations based on bladder size, medical history, and standard examination protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If ultrasound image data is acquired and bladder size is derived, then diagnostic information is obtained, but the ability to determine presence of additional organs is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorgan presence informationVSAvoidexamination system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of additional organ presence based on bladder size measurement before the actual examination proceeds. By calculating bladder volume from ultrasound images and comparing against threshold values, the system proactively identifies which organs need to be examined, preventing information loss about required examinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary processing step that uses bladder size as a mediator to infer the presence of additional organs. Rather than directly detecting all organs, the system uses bladder volume measurement as an intermediate indicator to determine whether prostate or kidneys are present and require examination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If comprehensive examination of all organs is performed, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but examination time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidexamination time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial examination by selectively examining only those organs whose presence is determined through bladder size analysis. Instead of examining all possible organs universally, the system applies examination only where needed based on the measured bladder volume, maintaining diagnostic accuracy for relevant organs while reducing unnecessary examination time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The examination protocol dynamically adapts based on bladder size measurements. The system adjusts which organs require examination according to the measured bladder volume, creating a flexible rather than fixed examination pathway. This dynamic approach ensures comprehensive examination of necessary organs while avoiding waste of time on organs unlikely to be present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If bladder size measurement is used to determine organ presence, then examination guidance is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexamination guidanceVSAvoidbladder size measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses standard, readily available ultrasound imaging equipment to obtain bladder size measurements rather than requiring specialized precision measurement devices. The approach uses conventional ultrasound technology that is already widely deployed, making the examination guidance accessible without demanding extreme measurement precision through expensive specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4248876B1Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and operation method thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4248876B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4248876B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4248876B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A processor (20) of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus acquires first ultrasound image data of a lower abdomen of a subject, derives a size of a bladder region included in the first ultrasound image data based on the first ultrasound image data, determines presence or absence of an organ, other than a bladder, that is to be examined, in the lower abdomen based on the size of the bladder region, and in a case where determination is made that there is an organ to be examined, displays first information on an examination of the organ on a display (15).