Doppler Ultrasound Abnormal Flow Detection via Reference Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging technologies face challenges in accurately and efficiently detecting abnormal blood flow patterns, which can lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions, particularly in obstetrical sonography, due to potential misinterpretation of fetal heart rate and flow profiles.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that uses machine learning models to analyze Doppler ultrasound measurements, allowing for the detection and display of abnormal flow profiles by overlaying a normal flow profile onto a pathological one, with adjustments for alignment and highlighting of deviations, facilitating earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Doppler ultrasound measurements are used to detect abnormal blood flow patterns, then diagnostic capability is improved, but potential for misinterpretation and misdiagnosis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically compares the measured flow profile against a reference flow profile and provides visual feedback by overlaying the reference profile on the measured profile. This feedback mechanism helps physicians correctly interpret Doppler measurements by showing deviations from normal patterns, thereby maintaining high detection accuracy while improving diagnostic reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference flow profile acts as an intermediary between the raw Doppler measurements and the physician's interpretation. By introducing this intermediate reference profile that shows what normal flow should look like, the system mediates the interpretation process and reduces the risk of misdiagnosis while preserving the sensitivity of Doppler detection.
2Measurement precision
If physicians manually evaluate flow profiles to detect abnormalities, then diagnostic thoroughness is improved, but time consumption and potential for human error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation by automatically comparing the measured flow profile against the reference profile and preparing the overlaid display before the physician reviews the data. This preliminary action highlights potential abnormalities in advance, allowing the physician to focus their attention on specific areas of concern rather than manually analyzing the entire profile, thus maintaining thorough evaluation while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the reference flow profile and overlays it on the measured profile. This copying approach allows the physician to quickly compare measured values against expected normal values without manual calculation or interpretation, maintaining diagnostic thoroughness while significantly reducing evaluation time and human error.
3Measurement precision
If complex analysis methods are used to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference flow profile serves as a simple intermediary that enables complex comparison analysis without requiring complex computational algorithms. By overlaying the reference profile on the measured profile, the system achieves accurate detection of flow abnormalities through a visually intuitive method that maintains low device complexity while improving measurement precision.
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 enables more precise detection of abnormal blood flow patterns, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions by providing clear visual indicators of pathological flow profiles, thus improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
Doppler ultrasound may be used to obtain an image of blood flow through the vessel or structure (color Doppler) and/or a blood flow velocity waveform (continuous or pulse wave Doppler)
Data Source
AI summary
Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring, via an ultrasound probe, Doppler measurements over a plurality of cardiac cycles, evaluating a flow profile comprising the Doppler measurements to detect an abnormality in the flow profile, and displaying, via a display device, the flow profile with a reference flow profile overlaid thereon. In this way, the attention of a physician evaluating results from an ultrasound imaging examination may be directed to abnormal flow that is potentially indicative of pathologies, thereby enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis of pathologies.