Ultrasound System Automatic Pressurization Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound diagnostic systems face challenges in maintaining consistent oppression speed and accounting for spontaneous displacements due to factors like pulse beats or respiratory movements, which can result in suboptimal elastic image generation.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound observation system that includes an ultrasound transducer, an automatic pressurizing mechanism, and control circuits to detect and control displacement, calculating the period of spontaneous displacement and synchronizing the pressurizing force with this period to generate stable elastic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual tissue oppressing method is used, then the surgeon can perform oppression operation, but it is difficult to maintain appropriate oppressing speed in a series of oppression processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects spontaneous displacement and controls the pressurizing mechanism without requiring continuous manual adjustment by the surgeon. The automatic pressurizing mechanism measures displacement amounts and adjusts pressing force automatically, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for manual speed maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures displacement amounts during oppression and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the pressing force. The control unit monitors displacement in real-time and modifies the pressurizing mechanism's output to maintain appropriate oppression speed, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures consistent performance.
2Reliability
If automatic pressurization is used, then appropriate elastic data can be obtained, but the system cannot always obtain appropriate elastic image when spontaneous displacement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of treating spontaneous displacement as a harmful interference to be eliminated, the system converts it into a beneficial reference signal. The control unit detects the period of spontaneous displacement and synchronizes the pressurizing mechanism's operation to this period, using the body's natural rhythm to improve image quality and eliminate the need for separate motion compensation techniques.
3Productivity
If pressurizing force is applied without considering spontaneous displacement period, then oppression can be performed, but the elastic image generation becomes unstable due to interference from pulse beat or pulsation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies pressurizing force in a periodic manner synchronized with the spontaneous displacement period. By measuring the period of spontaneous displacement and applying pressing force at corresponding intervals, the system creates constructive interference that enhances the elasticity signal and produces stable elastic images without compromising oppression efficiency.
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
The system ensures stable and appropriate elastic image generation by controlling the pressurizing force in synchronization with spontaneous displacements, improving image quality and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer that transmits the ultrasound to the subject, receives the ultrasound reflected by the subject and generates the ultrasound signal from the received ultrasound
Implementation Method 2
a pressurizing section that applies a pressing force to the subject to cause pressurizing displacement
Implementation Method 3
an elastic modulus calculation section that calculates an elastic modulus of the subject based on the imaging displacement amount
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An ultrasound observation system (1) includes an ultrasound transducer (11) that generates an ultrasound signal by transmitting and receiving ultrasound to and from a subject, an automatic pressurizing mechanism (12) that applies a pressing force to the subject to cause pressurizing displacement, an elastic-image-generation displacement measuring circuit (33) that measures an imaging displacement amount of the subject based on the ultrasound signal, an elastic modulus calculation circuit (34) that calculates an elastic modulus of the subject based on the imaging displacement amount, a pressurizing-mechanism-control displacement measuring circuit (31) that measures a controlling displacement amount of the subject based on the ultrasound signal, and a pressurizing mechanism control circuit (32) that controls the automatic pressurizing mechanism (12) based on the controlling displacement amount, wherein the pressurizing mechanism control section (32) calculates a period at which the controlling displacement amount on a basis of the spontaneous displacement of the subject is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, and controls the automatic pressurizing mechanism (12) to apply the pressing force at timing in accordance with the calculated period.