Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device Inflow Time Map Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic diagnostic devices face challenges in effectively displaying and analyzing blood flow dynamics, particularly in differentiating the inflow time of a contrast agent and extracting focused vessels, which is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring the effectiveness of therapies, especially for patients with kidney issues or iodine allergies.
Innovation Solution
The device calculates a parameter indicating the inflow starting time of a contrast agent and constructs a colored inflow time map, using image data to selectively extract focused vessels and remove non-contrast-enhanced regions, allowing for improved visualization and comparison of blood flow dynamics over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ultrasonic diagnostic devices display contrast-enhanced images and TIC data, then blood flow dynamics can be observed, but it becomes difficult to selectively extract focused vessels and remove non-contrast-enhanced regions, resulting in noisy images with poor viewability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing into distinct stages: first extracting contrast-enhanced regions based on TIC parameters, then selectively extracting focused vessels from those regions. This segmentation allows precise vessel extraction while removing non-contrast-enhanced background noise, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and viewability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the relevant information (focused vessels within contrast-enhanced regions) while discarding irrelevant data (non-contrast-enhanced regions). This selective extraction process removes noise and improves viewability while maintaining the precision of blood flow dynamics detection.
2Measurement precision
If ultrasonic contrast agents are used to observe micro-structured blood flow dynamics, then diagnostic capability for tumor properties is improved, but the complexity of image analysis and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by calculating TIC parameters and identifying contrast-enhanced regions before final vessel extraction. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent processing by pre-filtering the data, reducing the complexity of the overall system while maintaining high diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces TIC (Time-Intensity Curve) analysis as an intermediary step between raw contrast-enhanced imaging and final vessel extraction. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the complexity by providing a structured framework for identifying and extracting relevant vascular information.
3Measurement precision
If color-coded inflow time maps are constructed to display relative differences in blood flow dynamics, then therapeutic monitoring capability is improved, but color non-uniformity between different regions makes accurate comparison difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneous color mapping to the extracted focused vessels, ensuring uniform color representation across different regions of the inflow time map. This homogeneity allows accurate visual comparison of blood flow dynamics for therapeutic monitoring while maintaining the precision of measurements.
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 approach enables the selective extraction of focused vessels and presents a clear, noise-free inflow time map, facilitating the evaluation of blood flow dynamics and the effectiveness of therapies by providing a unified color representation of regions, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a probe 2 that transmits and receives ultrasonic signals to and from the test object 1
Implementation Method 2
a receiving beamformer unit 7 that performs phasing and adding processing on the ultrasonic signals received by the probe 2
Implementation Method 3
ultrasonic contrast agents have properties of resonating in a frequency bandwidth of medical ultrasonic waves to emit intense radiation of harmonic components
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an ultrasonic diagnostic device and an ultrasonic image display method having a function of displaying an inflow time map representing relative differences in blood flow dynamics such as inflow time of a contrast agent in difference colors, including a function of selectively extracting a focused vessel and constructing a noise-less inflow time map, and in the comparison of differences in color between the constructed inflow time map and the past inflow time map to examine a change in blood flow dynamics by therapy or the like, an interpolation function of unifying the color of regions as a base. A TIC analysis unit 13 calculates a parameter (tα) indicating an inflow starting time of a contrast agent and a difference of brightness ΔI due to the contrast agent using image data in a range designated by a image detection unit 11. A first pixel selection unit 15 selectively extracts a pixel meeting certain conditions and concurrently removes a non contrast-enhanced region. An image construction unit 16 constructs an inflow time map colored in accordance with the values of tα, and a second pixel selection unit 17 selectively extracts a vessel focused by an operator using a histogram based on the difference of brightness.