Bladder Ultrasound Scan Validation for Accurate Urine Volume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring urine volume in a bladder due to incorrect extraction of bladder regions in ultrasound images, leading to inaccurate volume calculations.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that includes an ultrasound probe, an image acquisition unit, a bladder extraction unit, a feature value calculation unit, and a scanning success/failure determination unit, which analyzes feature values across multiple frames to determine successful scanning and accurately measure the bladder region's maximum diameter, ensuring precise urine volume calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic bladder region extraction is performed using ultrasound images, then measurement labor is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to incorrect extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring multiple frames of ultrasound images before extraction, and calculates feature values in advance to determine scanning success. This preliminary verification ensures that only images with successfully scanned bladders are used for automatic extraction, preventing incorrect extraction while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces feedback mechanisms by calculating feature values (such as bladder area, perimeter, or shape factors) and analyzing their continuity across frames. The scanning success/failure determination unit uses this feedback to identify whether the bladder was successfully scanned, and only accepts images with successful scanning for volume measurement, thereby ensuring accuracy while maintaining automated operation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple frames are acquired and analyzed for scanning success determination, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by acquiring multiple frames (excessive) but only processing them partially - specifically, only frames determined to have successful scanning are used for final measurement. The feature value calculation and continuity analysis are performed on a subset of frames rather than all acquired images, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If manual measurement of bladder diameter is performed, then measurement accuracy is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling automatic bladder region extraction and automatic volume calculation through integrated algorithms. The extraction unit automatically identifies bladder boundaries, the feature value calculation unit computes relevant parameters, and the determination unit validates scanning success - all without requiring manual measurement operations, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining accuracy through automated precision methods.
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
The apparatus achieves accurate measurement of urine volume by ensuring correct extraction and analysis of bladder regions, improving the reliability and precision of bladder volume calculations.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasound probe transmits ultrasonic waves toward a subject and receives ultrasound echoes from the subject
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a method of controlling an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that measure a urine volume in a bladder of a subject with excellent accuracy. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe (2) that scans a subject with an ultrasound beam, an image acquisition unit (8) that acquires ultrasound images of a plurality of frames corresponding to a plurality of different tomographic planes in the subject using the ultrasound probe (2), an image memory (9) that keeps the acquired ultrasound images of the plurality of frames, a bladder extraction unit (10) that extracts a bladder region from each of the ultrasound images of the plurality of frames, a feature value calculation unit (11) that calculates a feature value regarding the bladder region extracted in each of the ultrasound images of the plurality of frames, and a scanning success/failure determination unit (12) that analyzes change in feature value between frames continuous in time series and determines whether or not scanning of a bladder of the subject with an ultrasound beam is successful.