Pulse Wave Doppler Cycle Screening for Reliable RI Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Doppler ultrasound measurements for carotid artery assessment in stroke screening are prone to inaccuracies due to low-quality cardiac cycles caused by motion or high heart rate variability, leading to unreliable Resistance Index (RI) values and increased clinician workload.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically identifies and excludes low-quality cardiac cycles based on heart rate variability and acquisition quality from spectral Doppler data, providing a visual indication and calculating RI using high-quality cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clinicians average measurements over several cardiac cycles to improve measurement reliability, then measurement reliability improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inclusion of low-quality cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cardiac cycles into individual units that can be independently evaluated for quality. Each cardiac cycle is analyzed separately using quality metrics (such as spectral quality, heart rate variability, and motion artifacts) to determine whether it meets the threshold for inclusion in measurements. This segmentation allows clinicians to selectively average only the high-quality cycles, thereby maintaining both reliability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality assessment by evaluating specific characteristics of each cardiac cycle (such as spectral density, signal-to-noise ratio, and presence of artifacts) rather than treating all cycles uniformly. This enables identification of locally problematic cycles that should be excluded, ensuring that the averaging process includes only cycles with adequate local quality metrics.
2Measurement precision
If manual correction of low-quality cycles is performed to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased workload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the ultrasound system to automatically identify, evaluate, and exclude low-quality cardiac cycles without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously calculates quality metrics for each cycle, compares them against predetermined thresholds, and selectively averages the high-quality cycles. This automation eliminates the need for clinicians to manually review and correct each cycle, significantly reducing workload while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information to clinicians about the quality of acquired cardiac cycles. The system displays quality indicators and automatically adjusts the averaging process based on the detected quality levels, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes measurement accuracy without requiring manual intervention.
3Measurement precision
If clinicians maintain probe stillness and minimize patient movement to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision improves, but productivity deteriorates due to extended examination time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing quality thresholds and automated selection criteria before the examination begins. The system is pre-programmed with the metrics and thresholds needed to evaluate cardiac cycle quality, allowing it to rapidly process and select appropriate cycles during the examination without requiring real-time manual adjustment or prolonged acquisition times.
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
Improves measurement accuracy and reduces user workload by ensuring reliable RI calculations through automated exclusion of low-quality data, enhancing the consistency and reliability of Doppler parameter measurements.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting an ultrasound signal into a subject and receiving a reflected wave from the subject
Implementation Method 2
transmitting an ultrasound signal into a subject and receiving a reflected wave from the subject
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound imaging system (100) may automatically analyze a pulse wave Doppler spectrogram to determine high quality and low quality cardiac cycles. Based on the determination, the ultrasound imaging system (100) may exclude the low quality cardiac cycle from being used in calculations of parameter measurements such as peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistance index. In some examples, the ultrasound imaging system (100) may provide a visual indication on the display (138) which cardiac cycles were excluded from the measurements.