Ultrasound Frame Alignment for Rapid Heart Ejection Fraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound diagnostic systems require manual user interaction to align and select frames for calculating heart cavity ejection fraction, prolonging the calculation time.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that automatically aligns and updates ultrasound images of different heart cross-sections based on user input, using cross-sectional area change curves to facilitate rapid ejection fraction calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual frame alignment and selection is performed by the user, then the user can select appropriate ultrasound images for ejection fraction calculation, but the time required for calculating ejection fraction is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic frame alignment and selection based on cross-sectional area change curves, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user operation. The computer automatically identifies corresponding frames between different cross-sections by analyzing the temporal patterns of cross-sectional area changes, thereby reducing the time required while maintaining selection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes the ultrasound images by generating cross-sectional area change curves and automatically aligning frames before the user needs to make selections. By performing the alignment action in advance based on the temporal characteristics of the curves, the system prepares the data so that subsequent ejection fraction calculation can proceed quickly without manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If ultrasound images from multiple cross-sections are displayed and manually coordinated, then the user can compare frames effectively, but the operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area change curves serve as an intermediary that automatically coordinates the display of ultrasound images from multiple cross-sections. Instead of requiring the user to manually synchronize frames, the system uses the temporal information from the curves as a mediator to automatically align and display corresponding frames, thereby simplifying the user's task while managing the complexity of multi-image coordination.
3Productivity
If automatic frame alignment is implemented, then the time required for ejection fraction calculation is reduced, but the precision of frame selection may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cross-sectional area change curves as feedback to guide the automatic frame alignment process. By analyzing the temporal patterns and characteristics of the curves, the system can intelligently determine which frames correspond to each other, providing feedback-based automatic selection that maintains precision while improving productivity. The user can also review and adjust the automatically selected frames if needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of easily calculating an ejection fraction of a cavity of a heart in a short time and a method of controlling the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit that acquires first ultrasound images in which a first cross section of a heart is imaged, and second ultrasound images in which a second cross section of the heart is imaged; a cross-sectional area calculation unit that calculates a cross-sectional area of a cavity of the heart for the first ultrasound images and the second ultrasound images; a cross-sectional area change curve generation unit that generates a first cross-sectional area change curve of the first cross section and a second cross-sectional area change curve of the second cross section; an alignment unit that aligns the first cross-sectional area change curve and the second cross-sectional area change curve with each other; and a frame update unit that, in a case in which one frame of the first ultrasound image or the second ultrasound image is updated based on an instruction from a user, automatically updates the other frame.