Secondary Flow Detection Device for Ultrasonic Blood Flow Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic diagnostic devices face challenges in accurately detecting secondary flows like vortices and spiral flows due to miss and false detection issues when relying on macroscopic or microscopic features of velocity vector maps, leading to inconsistencies in determining their presence and magnitude.
Innovation Solution
A secondary flow detection device and program that calculate a degree-of-swirl map, extract secondary flow candidates based on predetermined conditions, calculate feature amounts, and determine the presence of secondary flows, providing a uniform and quantitative extraction method for complex blood flows in heart chambers or vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vortex detection is performed based on streamline regression condition (macroscopic feature), then large-scale vortex structures can be identified, but miss detection occurs when spatial resolution is low and false detection occurs in stagnant flow regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vortex detection task into two independent segments: macroscopic streamline analysis and microscopic vorticity analysis. Each segment detects different aspects of vortex structures, and their results are combined to achieve more reliable detection. The streamline-based method captures large-scale vortex patterns while the vorticity-based method captures local rotational characteristics, reducing both miss detection and false detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two different detection approaches (streamline regression and vorticity calculation) into a unified detection system. By combining the results of both methods with different weights, the system leverages the strengths of each approach while compensating for their individual weaknesses, thereby improving overall detection accuracy and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If vortex detection is performed based on vorticity threshold (microscopic feature), then local swirl strength can be measured, but miss or false detection occurs due to velocity differences rather than actual vortex presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (streamline analysis) to mediate between the vorticity calculation and final vortex determination. The streamline-based macroscopic feature analysis acts as a filter that validates whether high vorticity regions correspond to actual vortex structures, preventing false detections caused by velocity variations unrelated to vortex formation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual determination of secondary flow is performed by users, then diagnostic judgment can be made based on velocity vector maps, but differences in determination occur among users leading to lack of uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the subjective diagnostic process into an objective parameter-based analysis by calculating quantitative vortex detection scores based on streamline regression characteristics and vorticity values. This parameterization allows for consistent, reproducible vortex identification across different users and cases, eliminating subjective variability while preserving diagnostic flexibility through configurable thresholds and weights.
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
Enables accurate and uniform extraction of secondary flows, reducing miss and false detection, and providing a reliable method for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases by quantitatively analyzing blood flow patterns.
Implementation Method 1
a received signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject
Implementation Method 2
velocity vector map calculated based on an echo signal reflected by an inspection target
Data Source
AI summary
To uniformly extract a secondary flow based on quantitative calculation even in a complicated blood flow in a heart chamber or a blood vessel. There is provided a secondary flow detection device, including: a degree-of-swirl map calculation unit that obtains a velocity vector map calculated based on an echo signal reflected by an inspection target, calculates, as a value indicating a degree of a spatial change of a velocity vector, a degree of swirl based on the velocity vector map, and calculates, as a degree-of-swirl map, a spatial distribution of an iso-degree-of-swirl line obtained by connecting the degree of swirl of an equal value; a secondary flow candidate extraction unit that extracts, as a secondary flow candidate, an iso-degree-of-swirl line satisfying a predetermined condition among the iso-degree-of-swirl line indicated in the degree-of-swirl map; a feature amount calculation unit that calculates a feature amount of the velocity vector inside the secondary flow candidate; a secondary flow determination unit that determines whether the secondary flow candidate is a desired secondary flow based on the feature amount; and a secondary flow extraction unit that extracts and outputs the secondary flow determined by the secondary flow determination unit.