Distance Image Probe Positioning for Automated Ultrasound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in automatically estimating the position at which an ultrasonic probe should be pressed against an organism to acquire an ultrasonic image of a region of interest without the assistance of an expert operator.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device that utilizes a first and second acquisition unit to capture distance images at different breathing phases, generates a difference image, and employs a feature part detecting unit to identify boundary parts using supervised learning and noise reduction techniques to guide the ultrasonic probe to the correct position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic position estimation is implemented without expert operator intervention, then automation level is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulty in predicting probe pressing position
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing distance images at multiple breathing phases before the actual measurement. These preliminary images are used to generate difference images that highlight anatomical boundaries, enabling the system to automatically determine the optimal probe pressing position without requiring expert operator intervention during the measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using distance images captured during breathing cycles as a mediator between the automated system and the anatomical structure. The difference images generated from these distance images serve as an intermediary representation that guides the probe positioning, bridging the gap between automation and precision.
2Measurement precision
If distance images are captured at multiple breathing phases, then position estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional acquisition units and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a distance imaging device and as a guide for probe positioning. The same distance images captured during breathing cycles are used for multiple purposes: generating difference images, identifying anatomical boundaries, and determining probe pressing positions, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically processing the distance images through difference image generation and boundary detection algorithms. The system uses its own captured data to guide the measurement process without requiring external expert intervention, thereby managing its own complexity through automated internal processing.
3Ease of operation
If expert operator intervention is eliminated, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to predict probe pressing position accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the distance images captured during breathing cycles and using this information to adjust and refine the probe pressing position estimation. The difference images provide feedback about anatomical boundaries, enabling the system to reliably determine the optimal positioning without expert operator intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a first distance image which is a distance image indicating a distance between an imaging target imaged by an imaging device and the imaging device and which is a distance image captured using a part of an animal of which the distance varies with breathing as the imaging target, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a second distance image which is a distance image captured by the imaging device and which is a distance image captured at a time point different from a time point at which the first distance image has been captured, a difference image generating unit configured to generate a difference image indicating a difference between the acquired first distance image and the acquired second distance image, and a feature part detecting unit configured to detect a feature part.