Ultrasound Data Processor for Artifact-Resistant Hemodynamic Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasound data used for hemodynamic measurements is prone to artifacts from external sources like electro-knives in perioperative environments, which can lead to inaccurate blood flow parameter calculations, making it difficult to distinguish between clinically relevant and non-relevant variations.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasound data processor that applies Fourier spectral analysis and wavelet decomposition to identify periodic patterns in the data, feeding the results to a classifier to determine the reliability of the measurements, enabling differentiation between clinically relevant and artifact-induced variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultrasound data is used for continuous hemodynamic monitoring, then real-time patient monitoring capability is improved, but reliability of measurements deteriorates due to artifacts from external sources like electro-knives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous monitoring capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of ultrasound data using spectral and wavelet decomposition techniques before generating hemodynamic measurements. This preliminary action identifies artifacts and their characteristics in advance, allowing the system to distinguish between clinically relevant variations and artifact-induced distortions before final measurements are derived.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary analysis layer between raw ultrasound data and final hemodynamic measurements. This intermediary layer uses spectral and wavelet decomposition to create processed features that mediate between the raw signal and clinical parameters, enabling artifact detection and measurement generation to coexist without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If spectral and wavelet analysis procedures are applied to ultrasound data, then artifact detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveartifact detection capabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex analysis process into distinct modular components: spectral decomposition module, wavelet decomposition module, and artifact detection module. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently optimized or implemented, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive artifact detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms one-dimensional time-domain ultrasound signals into multi-dimensional frequency and time-frequency representations through spectral and wavelet analysis. This dimensional transformation enables artifact detection in additional dimensions (frequency spectrum, wavelet coefficients) without requiring proportionally increased computational complexity in the time domain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If multiple analysis procedures are applied to distinguish artifact types, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary spectral and wavelet decomposition to extract characteristic features of artifacts before conducting detailed analysis. This preliminary action identifies and classifies artifact types early in the processing pipeline, allowing subsequent analysis to focus computational resources only on regions requiring detailed examination, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining high measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4181790B1Ultrasound data processor
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP4181790B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4181790B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4181790B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An ultrasound data processor for assessing reliability of ultrasound data for determining blood flow values for a patient. The processor is adapted to apply at least a spectral analysis procedure and a wavelet decomposition procedure to input ultrasound data (or data or signals derived therefrom), and to feed the output(s) of said procedures to a classifier algorithm configured to generate a reliability indicator based on these input information. Both spectral analysis and wavelet decomposition are signal analysis techniques which assess periodic properties of data and signals, this being particularly suited to detecting background noise artefacts (such as those generated by electrical knives used in surgery) which do not change the morphology or shape of the signals but do impose a background distortion.