Ultrasound Probe Alignment Using Camera-Guided Lesion Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound treatment devices require a complicated and time-consuming process for lesion localization due to the manual movement of the ultrasound probe for anatomical structure imaging and lesion identification.
Innovation Solution
A lesion locating method and system that utilizes an image acquisition assembly with an ultrasound probe and cameras positioned relative to the probe, forming a reference view to determine the actual locating trajectory of the ultrasound probe to align with a mark on the body surface, reducing manual intervention and simplifying the localization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual movement of ultrasound probe is used for lesion localization, then anatomical structure imaging and lesion identification can be performed, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
A camera is introduced as an intermediary device to capture images of the mark on the body surface. The camera serves as a mediator between the ultrasound probe and the operator, enabling automatic determination of the probe's positional relationship with the mark through image processing, thereby eliminating the need for manual probe movement and reducing localization time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical movement of the ultrasound probe for localization is replaced by an automated image-based positioning system. The camera captures images of the mark, and through image processing algorithms, the system automatically calculates the probe's position and orientation relative to the mark, substituting the mechanical trial-and-error process with an automated computational approach
2Measurement precision
If manual movement of ultrasound probe is used for lesion localization, then lesion can be located, but the operation process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The camera acts as an intermediary that simplifies the localization process by capturing visual information of the mark. This visual information is then processed automatically to determine the probe's position, reducing the operational complexity from manual trial-and-error to an automated image-processing-based approach
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly manipulating the ultrasound probe for localization, the system creates a visual copy (image) of the mark on the body surface. This image copy serves as a reference for automatic position calculation, simplifying the complex manual localization process into a more straightforward image-based determination
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a lesion locating method and a lesion locating system. The lesion locating method includes: locating a lesion (32) by locating a mark (31) on a body surface; using a camera (2) in locating to assist an ultrasound probe (1) for locating; forming a reference view (4) according to data acquired in real time by the camera (2), where the reference view (4) has a preset size, and a virtual mark point (41) corresponding to the mark (31) is formed in the reference view (4); and determining, according to a position of the virtual mark point (41) in the reference view (4) and an actual positional relationship of the camera (2) and the ultrasound probe (1), an actual locating trajectory that enables a center line (13) of the ultrasound probe (1) to coincide with the mark (31). According to the lesion locating method, the camera (2) is configured to acquire camera data to form the reference view (4), and then assists the ultrasound probe (1) for locating with the reference view (4), which can reduce the difficulty of locating, increasing the efficiency, and saving the operation time.