Ultrasound Cineloop Storage with Length Threshold Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging systems often store sequences of images that are too short to be used with quantitative measurement tools, requiring additional acquisitions and repositioning of the ultrasound probe, due to their retrospective storage mode limitations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that automatically continue acquiring images after a store command is received, ensuring that the combined sequence meets or exceeds a length threshold, allowing for the saving of a cineloop in non-volatile memory that includes both initial and additional images, thereby meeting the required length for analysis tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the system stores images in retrospective mode with a fixed buffer length, then the storage operation is simple and fast, but the stored sequence may be too short for quantitative measurement tools
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check of the buffer sequence length before executing the store operation. If the sequence meets the minimum length threshold, the store operation proceeds; if not, the system prevents storage and prompts the user to acquire more data, ensuring quality control before the actual storage action
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user regarding the sequence length status. When the buffer contains insufficient images, the system notifies the user that the sequence is too short for quantitative analysis, enabling the user to adjust the acquisition duration before attempting to store again
2Manufacturing precision
If the clinician performs an additional acquisition to obtain sufficient images, then the sequence length requirement is met, but additional time is spent and the probe must be repositioned
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the sequence length verification as a preliminary step before the store operation, allowing the clinician to address insufficient length issues during the current positioning rather than discovering the problem after storage, thereby avoiding redundant probe repositioning and additional acquisition time
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the sequence length validation and provides guidance to the clinician, enabling the clinician to self-correct the acquisition duration without requiring system intervention or additional manual steps for verification
3Ease of operation
If the system allows storage of any sequence length, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of quantitative analysis is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a preliminary validation step that checks whether the sequence length meets the minimum requirement for quantitative analysis tools. This pre-check ensures that only adequate sequences are stored, maintaining reliability while keeping the operation simple for the clinician
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound imaging system and method of ultrasound imaging. The method includes initiating a live ultrasound scanning session and saving a first sequence of images in a volatile memory. The method includes receiving a store command while in a retrospective image capture mode during the live ultrasound scanning session. The method includes detecting that the first sequence of images does not meet a length threshold and automatically continuing to acquire a second sequence of images. The method includes detecting that the combination of the first sequence of images and the second sequence of images meets or exceeds the length threshold and saving a third sequence of images as a cineloop in a non-volatile memory, the third sequence of images including both at least a portion of the first sequence of images and at least a portion of the second sequence of images.