Ultrasound Visual Protocols with Scan Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound protocols are inefficient and prone to interpretation variations among practitioners, as they are not closely coupled with ultrasound images and annotations, leading to complex and time-consuming review processes.
Innovation Solution
A visual ultrasound protocol system that associates protocol steps with a scan map and thumbnail images, allowing for cross-referencing and automatic display of images, measurements, and annotations, ensuring accurate and efficient data collection and review.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple checklist protocol is used, then the protocol is easy to implement, but the review process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the checklist protocol with visual elements including scan maps showing anatomical locations, thumbnail galleries of captured images, and structured annotation fields. This integration creates a unified visual protocol interface that combines procedural guidance with immediate visual feedback, eliminating the need for separate review processes and reducing time loss while maintaining ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If protocol steps are not closely coupled with images, then the protocol structure is simple, but the association between images and protocol information is weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces scan maps as intermediary visual representations that geographically link protocol steps to specific anatomical locations. Each checklist item is associated with markers on the scan map indicating where images should be captured. This intermediary layer creates reliable associations between protocol requirements and captured images without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If checklist requirements are interpreted differently by practitioners, then the protocol is flexible to different expertise levels, but the collected information varies depending on the practitioner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the visual interface immediately shows practitioners what images have been captured, what annotations are required, and whether protocol steps are complete. The scan map updates in real-time to reflect captured image locations, and the system provides guidance on missing elements. This feedback loop ensures consistent information collection across practitioners while maintaining adaptability to different expertise levels through visual guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing ultrasound visual protocols to increase the speed and accuracy of examinations. A system can include an ultrasound probe, a storage medium for storing ultrasound visual protocols associated with anatomy to be examined, a storage medium on which a scan map comprising a graphical representation of anatomy being examined for a visual protocol is stored, and a touch-screen image display for displaying on a user interface scan map and visual protocol information, a working ultrasonic image of the anatomy being examined, and selectable thumbnail ultrasound images of the anatomy being examined. The display is responsive to receive, for an object identified in an image, object measurement and location information for a visual protocol, and in response to receiving the such information, to display visual protocol steps, location information of the object on the working image, and measurement information of the object.