Ultrasound Probe Alignment for Remote Diagnostic Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic diagnosis devices face challenges in facilitating effective remote assistance for non-experienced users, leading to lower quality imaging results due to inadequate location alignment and guidance during scanning.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasonic diagnosis device equipped with an image generation unit, location confirming unit, and communication unit that allows for the transmission and display of location correction information between a primary and auxiliary probe, utilizing 3D sensors and real-time communication for precise probe alignment and guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If remote diagnosis assistance is implemented without location alignment technology, then remote diagnosis capability is provided, but imaging quality and scanning accuracy deteriorate due to inadequate location alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote diagnosis capabilityVSAvoidimaging quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the expert user's probe location and scanning information is transmitted to the non-expert user's device. The location correcting unit provides real-time feedback about the expert's probe position, scanning direction, and range, enabling the non-expert user to adjust their probe positioning accordingly to match the expert's scanning pattern and achieve aligned imaging results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A communication unit acts as an intermediary between the expert user and non-expert user. This intermediary transmits location information, image data, and control signals between the two devices, enabling coordinated remote diagnosis without requiring direct physical connection or shared physical space between the users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If real-time location correction display is provided, then scanning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and communication units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is equipped with a 3D sensor that serves multiple functions: it tracks the probe's own location and movement, provides spatial orientation data, and enables communication with the diagnosis device. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate dedicated components for location tracking and communication, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving real-time location correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12514546B2Ultrasonic diagnosis device and method of diagnosing by using the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 SAMSUNG MEDISON CO LTD

AI summary

An ultrasonic diagnosis device includes an image generation unit configured to generate image data of a target object diagnosed by a first user, a location confirming unit configured to confirm first location information of a probe with respect to the target object; a communication unit configured to transmit the image data and the first location information and to receive second location information of an auxiliary probe with respect to an auxiliary target object; and a display configured to display a location correction display of the probe based on the second location to information.