Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus Image Comparison Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses lack the capability to easily compare and display desired past images alongside live images during procedures like tumor puncture and treatment effect determination, limiting their effectiveness in medical treatments.

Innovation Solution

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image acquisition mode for registering past images and an image comparison mode for displaying selected past images alongside live images, allowing for matching of observation angles, magnification, and positional relationships, enabling effective comparison and treatment monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses use only dual display function and patient browser function, then the device complexity remains simple, but the ease of operation for comparing arbitrary past images with live images is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of comparing past images with live imagesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display control unit is enhanced to provide multiple display modes (dual display mode, patient browser mode, and image comparison mode) within a single apparatus. The image comparison mode allows selection of arbitrary past images from storage and displays them alongside live images, making the apparatus universally capable of various image comparison tasks without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the apparatus displays multiple images simultaneously for comparison, then the productivity of medical diagnosis is improved, but the ease of operation becomes more difficult due to multiple functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproductivity of medical diagnosisVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus provides dynamic switching between different display modes (dual display, patient browser, and image comparison modes) based on operational needs. The image comparison mode dynamically allows selection of arbitrary past images from storage and displays them alongside live images, enabling flexible adaptation to different diagnostic scenarios without requiring complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the apparatus allows arbitrary image selection and comparison, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability of image comparisonVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display control unit is enhanced to provide multiple display modes (dual display mode, patient browser mode, and image comparison mode) within a single apparatus. The image comparison mode allows selection of arbitrary past images from storage and displays them alongside live images, making the apparatus universally capable of various image comparison tasks without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution enables doctors to efficiently compare past and live images, facilitating safe tumor puncture and reliable treatment effect determination, reducing operator load and allowing for quick image comparison and table resets as needed.

Implementation Method 1

The ultrasonic probe 11 includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers which generate ultrasonic waves on the basis of driving signals from the transmission unit 12 and convert reflected waves from a subject to be examined into electrical signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric transducer: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The ultrasonic probe 11 includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers which generate ultrasonic waves on the basis of driving signals from the transmission unit 12 and convert reflected waves from a subject to be examined into electrical signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric transducer: Converse Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP1953566B1Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image display method
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYST CORP
  • EP1953566B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1953566B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1953566B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In the image acquisition mode, desired past images are registered in an image table. A past image selected from the past images registered in the table is displayed as a reference image together with a live image in a predetermined form. Selecting another image registered in the image table at an arbitrary timing will display another past image upon replacing the reference image.