Ultrasonic Probe Mapping for Surgical Guidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical imaging systems require tedious and time-consuming processes to update the mapping relationship between an ultrasonic probe and pre-obtained medical images when the position of the imaged object changes, especially in scenarios like interventional surgery where object movement is frequent.

Innovation Solution

A medical imaging system with an ultrasonic probe, positioning circuitry, first mapping relationship estimation circuitry, repositioning circuitry, and display, which estimates and updates the mapping relationship to maintain accurate image registration with minimal operator intervention, reducing processing load by determining the target position of a volume image based on initial and current probe positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If image selection and registration process is repeated to update mapping relationship when object position changes, then mapping accuracy is maintained, but operation time and processing load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping relationship accuracyVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by recording the position of the ultrasonic probe at different time points before object movement occurs. When movement is detected, these pre-recorded position data are used to automatically calculate the mapping relationship without requiring real-time manual intervention, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing operation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting object position changes and recalculating the mapping relationship between ultrasonic probe positions and target positions in pre-obtained medical images without requiring manual re-determination. The processor automatically updates the mapping based on recorded position data, eliminating the need for repeated manual image selection and registration operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual image selection and registration is performed repeatedly, then mapping relationship is updated accurately, but operator workload and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping relationship accuracyVSAvoidoperator workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting object movement and recalculating mapping relationships without requiring manual image selection and registration operations. The processor uses recorded ultrasonic probe positions to automatically update the mapping between probe positions and target positions in medical images, significantly reducing operator workload while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the position of the ultrasonic probe and comparing it with recorded position data. When position changes are detected, the system automatically triggers mapping relationship updates and provides feedback to the display device, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If mapping relationship is updated frequently during long surgical procedures, then image registration accuracy is maintained, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage registration accuracyVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by recording ultrasonic probe positions at different time points before surgical procedures begin. During surgery, when object movement is detected, these pre-recorded position data are used to quickly recalculate mapping relationships without requiring intensive real-time processing, thus maintaining image registration accuracy while reducing processing load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10660608B2Medical imaging system, surgical guidance system and medical imaging method

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 CANON MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A medical imaging system according to embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe, positioning circuitry, first mapping relationship estimation circuitry, repositioning circuitry and a display. The first mapping relationship estimation circuitry estimates a first mapping relationship between a position of the ultrasonic probe when a subject is in a first position state and a position of the ultrasonic probe when the subject is in a second position state. The repositioning circuitry determines a target position of a volume image corresponding to the position of the ultrasonic probe in the second position state according to the first mapping relationship and a second mapping relationship between the position of the ultrasonic probe in the first position state and the target position of the volume image of the subject. The display displays the image of the target position obtained from the volume image according to the target position of the volume image.