Ultrasound Fetal Heart Localization for Stable Doppler Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fetal monitors are cumbersome and require skilled personnel to accurately position ultrasound transducers for reliable fetal heart rate measurement, often leading to signal loss due to displacement of the fetal heart out of the ultrasound beam.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound probe equipped with a phased array of transducers operates in both imaging and Doppler modes, using an object detection model to localize the fetal heart in the ultrasound image, ensuring accurate placement and reducing power consumption for continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual positioning of ultrasound transducers is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to difficulty in maintaining optimal position
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs transducer positioning and fetal heart rate measurement without requiring manual adjustment. The ultrasound device autonomously identifies the fetal heart location, optimizes the measurement position, and maintains continuous monitoring, eliminating the need for manual transducer repositioning while ensuring consistent measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical positioning process is replaced with an automated electronic system that uses ultrasound imaging and processing algorithms. The system electronically identifies the fetal heart location and automatically adjusts measurement parameters, substituting the mechanical act of manual transducer positioning with automated digital processing.
2Reliability
If skilled personnel are required for operation, then measurement reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration and automatic positioning, eliminating the need for skilled operator intervention. It autonomously identifies the fetal heart, optimizes measurement parameters, and maintains reliable monitoring without requiring training, making the device accessible to inexperienced users while preserving measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors signal quality and provides real-time feedback to adjust measurement parameters automatically. This closed-loop control ensures reliable fetal heart rate measurement while requiring no manual intervention from users, as the system self-corrects any positioning issues or signal degradation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transducer position is manually adjusted, then adaptability to different fetal positions is improved, but loss of time increases due to repeated positioning procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adapts to different fetal positions by autonomously identifying the fetal heart location and adjusting measurement parameters in real-time. This eliminates the need for manual transducer repositioning, reducing time loss while maintaining full adaptability to various fetal orientations and positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters and focal depth based on real-time fetal heart position detection. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to track and monitor the fetal heart regardless of position changes without requiring manual repositioning, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability.
4Reliability
If continuous monitoring is performed, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic ultrasound pulses rather than continuous transmission, alternating between imaging mode and Doppler mode. This periodic operation maintains reliable monitoring capability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous high-power transmission, as the system only activates ultrasound when needed for measurement updates.
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 system provides reliable fetal heart rate measurement with reduced training requirements, minimizes signal loss, and allows prolonged use by inexperienced users, enhancing safety and efficiency in fetal monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The Doppler effect may be used to calculate the fetal heart rate, based on a measured frequency shift
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasound probe equipped with a phased array of transducers operates in both imaging and Doppler modes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an ultrasound fetal heart rate monitoring system (100). An ultrasound probe placed on a maternal abdomen provides sensor data. The ultrasound probe is first operated in an imaging mode to obtain an ultrasound image from the ultrasound probe. A trained object detection model is applied to the ultrasound image to determine whether a fetal heart is located in a target region of the ultrasound image addressable by a Doppler mode of the ultrasound probe. If the fetal heart rate is located in the target region, the ultrasound probe is switched to the Doppler mode; a Doppler ultrasound signal is obtained from the ultrasound probe; and the fetal heart rate is computed from the Doppler ultrasound signal.