Sonogram Atlas Workflow for Radiologist Preference Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sonograph users and radiograph interpreters lack a seamless bi-directional communication platform for real-time feedback on data quality, leading to workflow interruptions and incomplete exams.

Innovation Solution

A sonogram atlas system that collects and analyzes data from experienced sonograph users and radiograph interpreters to provide high-quality sonogram preferences, including preferred views and measurements, enabling virtual collaboration without interrupting the workflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sonograph users call radiologists into the scanning room to verify image quality and protocol compliance, then imaging quality aligns with radiologist preferences, but workflow efficiency deteriorates due to interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging quality alignmentVSAvoidworkflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication platform as an intermediary between sonograph users and radiologists. This platform enables asynchronous communication where sonograph users can submit questions about imaging quality and protocol compliance without requiring radiologists to be physically present in the scanning room. The radiologist receives and responds to these questions through the platform, eliminating workflow interruptions while maintaining quality alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical presence (radiologist entering the scanning room) with an electronic communication system. Sonograph users can capture images, measure parameters, and submit quality verification requests through the platform, which then transmits these to the radiologist electronically. This substitution eliminates the need for physical movement and real-time presence while achieving the same quality verification goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If sonograph users review protocol checklists to check exam completeness, then they can identify missing elements, but no real-time quality feedback is provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality feedbackVSAvoidreal-time feedback delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sonograph users submit quality verification requests through the communication platform, and radiologists provide real-time responses directly on the platform. This creates a closed-loop feedback system where quality information flows back to the sonograph user without delay, enabling immediate correction of any issues while the exam is still in progress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables sonograph users to perform preliminary quality checks by submitting verification requests before finalizing the exam. The radiologist's feedback is received in advance, allowing the sonograph user to make necessary adjustments before completing the imaging session, rather than discovering issues after the fact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If sonograph users access only the attending radiologist of the day, then communication is simplified, but the radiologist may not be the one who ordered the sonogram

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication simplicityVSAvoidradiologist preference alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal communication platform that can interface with multiple radiologists simultaneously. The system maintains records of which radiologist ordered each sonogram and routes communication appropriately. This allows the platform to automatically connect sonograph users with the correct radiologist based on the exam order, rather than defaulting to whoever is currently attending, thereby preserving preference alignment while maintaining ease of use through automated routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12614629B2Methods and systems for communication between sonograph users and radiograph interpreters

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A method (100) for providing information to a sonograph user, including providing (130) a sonogram atlas comprising one or more sonogram preferences of each of a number of different radiograph interpreters, the sonogram preferences comprising at least one of a preferred view and a measurement for each of a number of sonogram types, receiving (140) a request for information from the sonogram atlas about a sonogram being obtained by a sonograph user from a patient, wherein the request comprises one or more of demographic information about the patient, a type of exam, a reason for imaging, an identification of which of the number of different radiograph interpreters ordered the sonogram, and an identification of which of the one or more sonogram types was ordered by the identified radiograph interpreter(s) retrieving (150) the one or more sonogram preferences of the identified radiograph interpreter(s).