Medical Probe Tracking With Region Overlays in 4D Ultrasound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physicians face difficulties in clearly seeing and tracking the position of medical probes in real-time within 3D ultrasound images, especially when multiple probes are used, making it challenging to identify and manage them with confidence.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tracking device into the medical probe that enables real-time 3D tracking, allowing the imaging system to select and superimpose a region of interest on the display with a distinct icon, and updating this region automatically based on probe position changes, while limiting updates to this area only.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time tracking of medical probes in 3D ultrasound images is implemented, then probe position identification is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A tracking device is introduced as an intermediary component that attaches to the medical probe and emits detectable signals. This mediator enables the ultrasound system to track probe position without requiring complex modifications to the probe itself or the ultrasound imaging system, thereby improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with signal-based tracking methods. Instead of using mechanical linkages or physical markers that would increase device complexity, the system uses electromagnetic or acoustic signals from the tracking device to determine probe position, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining accurate tracking.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple probes are tracked simultaneously, then procedural capability is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each medical probe is assigned a distinct visual identifier (analogous to color coding) that appears in the ultrasound image. These unique visual markers enable physicians to easily differentiate between multiple probes simultaneously present in the patient's body, solving the identification difficulty that arises when tracking multiple probes without increasing procedural capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system segments the identification of multiple probes by assigning unique identifiers to each probe. This segmentation approach allows the system to handle multiple probes independently and distinctly, improving procedural capability while maintaining ease of detection and measurement through clear visual differentiation.
3Productivity
If frame rate is increased for real-time observation, then observation clarity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and processes only the essential tracking information from the ultrasound images rather than processing entire high-resolution frames. By taking out only the necessary data elements (probe positions and identifiers), the system achieves high frame rates for real-time observation while significantly reducing the computational energy required compared to processing complete images at the same frame rate.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical systems and methods are provided in which a processor receives the 3D ultrasound images and receives position signals from a position tracking device, indicating the position of a corresponding probe relative to the 3D ultrasound images. Based on the probe position, a region of interest is selected that contains the position the medical probe within the 3D ultrasound images, and the selected region of interest is rendered to a display together with a representation of the medical probe superimposed on the region of interest.