Ultrasound Data Linking for Non-Standard Procedure Organization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses struggle to effectively manage and organize ultrasound data acquired during ultrasonic examinations that deviate from pre-registered procedures, making it difficult for users to determine which examination process the data belongs to.

Innovation Solution

The proposed ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an acquisition unit for acquiring ultrasound data and a linking unit that associates first ultrasound data (acquired following a pre-registered procedure) with its corresponding examination process. Additionally, the apparatus links second ultrasound data (acquired during procedures different from the pre-registered ones) with the appropriate examination process, either by user designation or through analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultrasound data is stored in accordance with acquisition order during non-pre-registered procedures, then data storage is simple and fast, but data organization and traceability to examination processes deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage efficiencyVSAvoidexamination process attribution information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-registering examination procedures and their associated processes before actual ultrasound data acquisition. When additional examinations are performed outside the pre-registered procedure, the system can still trace the data to appropriate examination processes based on the pre-established procedure framework, thus maintaining data organization without restricting operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple examination procedures are supported with flexible data acquisition, then adaptability and user freedom improve, but data management complexity and organization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexamination procedure flexibilityVSAvoiddata management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments examination procedures into pre-registered standard procedures and additional flexible examinations. Each segment is managed separately with appropriate linking mechanisms, allowing the system to maintain organized data structures for standard procedures while accommodating flexible additional examinations without overwhelming complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary linking mechanism that connects ultrasound data to examination processes through examination procedure identification. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of data management, allowing flexible data acquisition while maintaining organized traceability through the linking structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250032096A1Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and program

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an acquisition unit and a linking unit is provided. An ultrasonic examination is executed by the acquisition unit to acquire ultrasound data. The linking unit links first ultrasound data, which is acquired by executing an ultrasonic examination in accordance with a pre-registered examination procedure, with an examination process corresponding to the ultrasonic examination. The linking unit further links second ultrasound data, which is acquired by executing an ultrasonic examination in a procedure different from the pre-registered examination procedure, with an examination process corresponding to the ultrasonic examination.