Flow-Mode Ultrasound Imaging With Selectable Angular Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow-mode ultrasound imaging often overwhelms clinicians with velocity information from multiple directions, making it difficult to accurately assess patient conditions or make diagnoses.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound imaging system and method that allows clinicians to select a flow region and an angular range within 360 degrees, enabling the display of flow-mode images that only show flow information within the specified region and angular range, thereby filtering out unnecessary directional information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional flow-mode imaging displays velocity information from all directions (360 degrees), then complete flow information is provided, but it becomes difficult for clinicians to accurately assess patient conditions due to overwhelming directional information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete 360-degree flow information into selectable angular ranges (e.g., 0-180 degrees, -45 to 45 degrees). Clinicians can divide the full angular spectrum into multiple displayable segments, allowing them to view complete flow information across different time periods or focus on specific directional segments relevant to particular diagnostic questions, thereby resolving the contradiction between information completeness and diagnostic clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the angular display range based on clinician selection and diagnostic needs. The angular range is not fixed but can be modified in real-time during the imaging process, allowing the display to adapt between showing complete 360-degree information when needed and focusing on specific angular segments when diagnostic precision is required, thus balancing information completeness with ease of interpretation
2Quantity of substance
If flow-mode imaging displays velocity information from multiple directions, then comprehensive flow data is captured, but the relevant flow information becomes difficult to identify
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates velocity information from specific angular ranges that are relevant to the diagnostic question at hand. By taking out only the necessary directional components (e.g., extracting only anterior-posterior flow information while excluding lateral flow), the system maintains comprehensive data availability while making relevant information stand out clearly without the confusion of extraneous directional data
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows clinicians to select partial angular ranges (less than 360 degrees) when complete information is not necessary for the diagnostic task. This partial action approach displays only the sufficient portion of flow information needed for specific assessments, reducing the overall quantity displayed to manageable levels while maintaining diagnostic adequacy, thus easing the identification of relevant flow patterns
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 clinicians to focus on relevant flow information, enhancing diagnostic accuracy by allowing selective display of flow information, thus improving assessment and diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
While in a color flow imaging mode, Doppler information is color-encoded
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound imaging system and method for flow-mode imaging. A method of ultrasound imaging includes displaying an initial ultrasound image, receiving a selection of a flow region through a user interface, and receiving a selection of an angular range through the user interface. The method includes displaying a flow-mode image on the display device after receiving both the selection of the flow region and the selection of the angular range, wherein the flow-mode image represents flow information that is both within the flow region and within the selected angular range. Wherein the flow-mode image does not represent flow information that is either outside of the flow region or outside of the angular range.