Ultrasound Probe Guidance Using Doppler-Based Visual Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In clinical settings where experienced ultrasound professionals are not immediately available, such as primary care offices, intensive care units, or emergency rooms, there is a need for systems that can guide the positioning and orientation of ultrasound probes effectively, even for unskilled users.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a computer processor to generate visual cues, including cross figures and markers, to guide the positioning and orientation of an ultrasound probe based on datasets indicating the required motion and orientation to achieve a desired view, utilizing neural networks to analyze pulsed Doppler mode information for accurate probe alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual guidance cues are provided for unskilled users, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the ultrasound probe and its position relative to the patient's body, displaying it on a touchscreen interface. This virtual representation allows unskilled users to see where the probe should be positioned without requiring expert knowledge, while the complexity is contained within the software processing rather than physical hardware additions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes ultrasound images, determines probe position, and generates visual guidance cues. This intermediary software layer acts as a mediator between the physical probe and the user, translating complex positioning requirements into simple visual instructions on the display.
2Productivity
If real-time visual feedback is provided, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs image analysis and position determination at periodic intervals rather than continuously, processing ultrasound frames at a reduced rate sufficient for guidance purposes. This periodic processing approach maintains real-time visual feedback for the user while significantly reducing the computational energy demand compared to continuous full-resolution analysis.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for positioning and orienting an ultrasound probe include receiving a dataset derived from the ultrasound probe, wherein the dataset comprises at least one dataset obtained during a pulsed Doppler mode operation of the probe; analyzing the dataset to identify a current position and orientation of the probe relative to a target position and orientation, wherein the target position and orientation align the probe to correctly acquire a selected view of a body part; and conveying the cunent position and orientation of the probe relative to the target position and orientation.