U.S. patent application number 12/988730 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-11 for ultrasound imaging system and method for providing assistance in an ultrasound imaging system.
Invention is credited to Hiba Arbash, Allan Dunbar, Fateh Mohammed, Siccd Schets.
Application Number | 20110196235 12/988730 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39739671 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110196235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dunbar; Allan ; et
al. |
August 11, 2011 |
ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN AN
ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM
Abstract
An ultrasound imaging system (1) comprising an ultrasound
scanner (2) for acquiring a live ultrasound image (7) of a portion
of the anatomy of a patient being examined with the ultrasound
imaging system (1), an assistance means (9) for providing at least
one primary demonstration video clip (27), and at least one video
display (8). The video display (8) is functionally connected with
the ultrasound scanner (2) and the assistance means (9) in order to
present the primary demonstration video clip (27) simultaneously
with a live ultrasound image (7).
Inventors: |
Dunbar; Allan; (Jena,
DE) ; Schets; Siccd; (Jena, DE) ; Mohammed;
Fateh; (Jena, DE) ; Arbash; Hiba; (Jena,
DE) |
Family ID: |
39739671 |
Appl. No.: |
12/988730 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/054832 |
371 Date: |
November 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/437 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/63 20180101;
G09B 23/286 20130101; A61B 8/00 20130101; G16H 30/40 20180101; G16H
30/20 20180101; A61B 8/463 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/437 |
International
Class: |
A61B 8/00 20060101
A61B008/00 |
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. An ultrasound imaging system comprising: an ultrasound scanner
for acquiring a live ultrasound image of an object being examined
with the ultrasound imaging system; an assistance means for
providing at least one primary demonstration video clip; and at
least one video display; wherein: the video display is functionally
coupled to the ultrasound scanner and to the assistance means, said
video display presenting the primary demonstration video clip
simultaneously with a live ultrasound image.
17. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 16, wherein:
the assistance means is adapted to provide at least one ultrasound
image video clip corresponding to a primary demonstration video
clip; and the video display is functionally coupled to the
assistance means, said video display presenting the ultrasound
image video clip simultaneously with the primary demonstration
video clip and with the live ultrasound image.
18. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 17, wherein
the assistance means comprises a synchronizer for synchronizing
presentation of the primary demonstration video clip with
presentation of the ultrasound image video clip.
19. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 17, wherein:
the assistance means is adapted to provide at least one secondary
demonstration video clip corresponding to a primary demonstration
video clip; and the video display is functionally coupled to the
assistance means and presents the secondary demonstration video
clip simultaneously with the primary demonstration video clip, the
ultrasound image video clip, and the live ultrasound image.
20. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 19, wherein
the primary demonstration video clip and the corresponding
secondary demonstration video clip show different views of a step
of the examination.
21. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 19, wherein a
synchronizer synchronizes presentation of the secondary
demonstration video clip with presentations of the primary
demonstration video clip and the ultrasound image video clip.
22. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 17, wherein
the assistance means is adapted to provide at least one set of
image parameter values corresponding to at least one ultrasound
image video clip and is functionally coupled to the ultrasound
scanner to adjust the ultrasound scanner's imaging settings
according to the set of image parameter values corresponding to the
ultrasound image video clip to be presented on the video
display.
23. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 16, wherein:
the assistance means is adapted to provide at least one procedure
demonstration set comprising several primary demonstration video
clips, each primary demonstration video clip demonstrating a
different step in an examination procedure; and the assistance
means is functionally coupled to the video display, whereby the
primary demonstration video clips are presented on the video
display.
24. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 16, further
comprising a step control functionally coupled to the assistance
means whereby, upon operation of the step control by a user of the
ultrasound system, a specific primary demonstration video is
presented on the video display.
25. The ultrasound imaging system according to claim 23, wherein:
the assistance means is adapted to provide several procedure
demonstration sets, each set demonstrating steps in a different
examination procedure; and the ultrasound imaging system comprises
a procedure control functionally coupled to the assistance means
whereby, upon operation of the procedure control by a user of the
ultrasound imaging system, a set from among the several procedure
demonstration sets is selected for presentation on the video
display.
26. In an ultrasound imaging system, a method for assisting a user
of the system, said method comprising the steps of: acquiring a
live ultrasound image of an object being examined; and presenting
on a video display the live ultrasound image simultaneously with a
primary demonstration video clip.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the presenting step
further comprises presenting an ultrasound image video clip,
corresponding to the primary demonstration video clip,
simultaneously with the live ultrasound image and the primary
demonstration video clip.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein: when presenting the
live ultrasound image simultaneously with the primary demonstration
video clip and the ultrasound image video clip, the primary
demonstration video clip runs in synchronism with the ultrasound
image video clip.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the presenting step
further comprises presenting a corresponding secondary
demonstration video clip on the video display in synchronism with
the primary demonstration video clip and the ultrasound image video
clip.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of
adjusting imaging settings of the ultrasound scanner according to a
set of image parameters corresponding to the ultrasound image video
clip presented on the video display.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system
according to the pre-characterizing clause of claim 1, in
particular for the use in medical examinations. It further relates
to a method of providing assistance to the user of an ultrasound
imaging system according to the pre-characterizing clause of claim
11, in particular when a medical examination is performed.
STATE OF THE ART
[0002] In order to make proper use an ultrasound imaging system in
the examination of a patient and to take full advantages of its
capabilities, a user in general requires a considerable amount of
training. From the prior art, systems are known, that provide the
user with training videos to be viewed before performing an
examination. For example, the S-Series devices and the M-Turbo
system available from SonoSite, Inc. Bothell, Wash., USA are
delivered with an USB thumb drive, named an "Education Key.TM.",
that contain a combination of system operation video tutorials,
application-specific video refresher programs with instructions on
how to perform certain exams and procedures, and an image reference
library for comparison purposes. The tutorials, programs and images
can be viewed on the imaging devices when no examination is
performed with the device and the device's display is therefore not
required for showing the ultrasound image of the examination.
[0003] The U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,710 B1, too, describes a medical
diagnostic system that provides video training. According to this
disclosure, the medical diagnostic system, e.g. an ultrasound
system, along with other medical diagnostic systems is connected
via a network with a central service facility. On the central
service facility, training videos are stored that can be accessed
remotely via the network from the medical diagnostic system and
displayed on a display monitor of the system. Once the user has
finished viewing the video, he can subsequently perform an
examination with the medical diagnostic system, which then for that
purpose displays a diagnostic image on the display monitor.
[0004] Moreover, several methods have been proposed to aid the user
during the performance of an ultrasound examination. For example,
the U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,629 B1 discloses an ultrasound imaging
system and a method for helping the user of the system to find the
correct cut-plane when acquiring an ultrasound image. The screen of
the ultrasound scanner is divided into two parts, one of which
shows the live image currently acquired and the other shows a
previously recorded reference image for comparison. The reference
image is cycled in a loop and synchronised with the live image
based on the patient's ECG signal.
[0005] In the international patent application WO 2007/036880 A1, a
user interface is disclosed for creating and organizing ultrasound
imaging protocols. The ultrasound imaging protocol guides the
sonographer through each view of an examination and specifies the
types of images and measurements he or she should take during the
examination. The user interface displays graphical representations
of ultrasound images characteristic for steps of the protocol and
allows for manipulation of these graphical representations in order
to change the respective protocol step. The revised protocol can
then be saved in the system.
[0006] From the international patent application WO 2004/058072 A1,
a device for real-time location and tracking in ultrasound imaging
of anatomical landmarks of the heart is known. According to this
disclosure, from the ultrasound signal a set of parameter values is
generated that represent the movement of the cardiac structure over
time. From these parameters, information about the position of the
anatomical landmark is extracted and an indication of the position
is overlaid onto the ultrasound image.
[0007] In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,120 B2, a device for
knowledge-based adjustment of the imaging parameters of an
ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. Based on a comparison
between a patient information database and a reference image
database, the imaging settings are automatically adjusted.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
improved ultrasound imaging system, in particular for the use in
medical examinations. The invention further aims to provide an
improved method of assisting the user of an ultrasound imaging
system, in particular when a medical examination is performed.
Solution According to the Invention
[0009] According to the invention, the problem is solved by
providing an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasound
scanner for acquiring a live ultrasound image of a portion of the
anatomy of a patient being examined with the ultrasound imaging
system, an assistance means for providing at least one primary
demonstration video clip, and at least one video display, wherein
the video display is functionally connected with the ultrasound
scanner and the assistance means in order to present the primary
demonstration video clip simultaneously with a live ultrasound
image. Also, the problem is solved by method of assisting the user
of an ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising the steps of
acquiring a live ultrasound image of a portion of the anatomy of a
patient being examined, and presenting on a video display the live
ultrasound image simultaneously with a primary demonstration video
clip.
[0010] In the context of the present invention, the expression
"examination procedure" does not only encompass purely diagnostic
procedures but also therapeutic or surgical procedures that involve
ultrasound imaging, e.g. for guidance as may be the case in the
performance of a regional anaesthesia. The live ultrasound image is
an ultrasound image created from the current ultrasound signal
received by the ultrasound scanner during the examination of the
patient with the ultrasound imaging system.
[0011] A demonstration video clip is an animated sequence of images
demonstrating the performance of a step in the examination
procedure. The present invention advantageously can instruct the
user as to how he should perform a certain step of the procedure
while at the same time allowing him or her to implement what he is
shown. It is an achievable advantage of the invention that the user
requires less experience in the use of the ultrasound system and in
the performance of a given procedure to be able perform this
procedure and come to a diagnosis. Thus, less training may be
required, thereby saving costs.
[0012] It is another achievable advantage that the ultrasound
imaging system according to the invention can itself be used as a
training tool both for introductory training and for continued
training. E.g., by means of the system, an experienced user may
quickly learn a new procedure or a new diagnosis. Using the system,
the user may also rehearse procedures or diagnoses he has already
learned. With the help of the present invention, training may be
achieved with less or even entirely without the involvement of an
instructor, thereby significant reducing training costs. Also, with
the present invention the advantage can be achieved that users who
have been trained on a different system can easily get acquainted
to the system according to the invention.
[0013] The system according to the invention may be used by less
qualified personnel, thereby expanding the market for medical
ultrasound imaging. Thus, the technology can be made available to a
greater number of patients, increasing the quality of health care
provided to these patients.
[0014] It is a further achievable advantage of the invention that
even for an experienced user, handling of the system is more
intuitive than in conventional systems. He may thus perform a
procedure quicker and arrive faster and more confidently to a
diagnosis, thereby saving costs and improving quality.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Preferred features of the invention which may be applied
alone or in combination are discussed in the dependent claims.
[0016] A demonstration video clip, such as the primary
demonstration video clip and the secondary demonstration video clip
discussed further below, preferably shows the position,
orientation, and motion of a probe of the ultrasound scanner
relatively to the patient's anatomy in the respective step of the
examination procedure. The demonstration video clip may for example
be a recording of an examination that has been performed on a real
subject or a phantom. Alternatively, it may be the recording of a
simulation using an anatomic model. The demonstration video clip
may also be generated in real-time inside or outside the ultrasound
imaging system, preferably by the assistance means. If the clip is
be pre-recorded, it may be stored in a memory, e.g. inside the
ultrasound imaging system, on a separate memory device such as
SonoSite's Education Key.TM., or on a remote service facility such
as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,710 B1. The
corresponding disclosure of the latter publication is incorporated
into the present application by reference.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assistance
means can in addition to the at least one primary demonstration
video clip provide at least one ultrasound image video clip, which
corresponds to one of the at least one primary demonstration video
clips. The demonstration video clip corresponds to the ultrasound
image video clip in that the ultrasound image video clip represents
the animated ultrasound image that results or would result from
performing the procedural step as demonstrated in the demonstration
video clip. Moreover, preferably the video display is functionally
connected with the assistance means in order to present the
ultrasound image video clip simultaneously with the primary
demonstration video clip and the live ultrasound image. Thus, the
ultrasound image video clip which corresponds to the primary
demonstration video clip is presented simultaneously with the live
ultrasound image and the primary demonstration video clip.
[0018] The inventors have found that, advantageously, the
demonstration of a procedural step simultaneously with presenting
the corresponding ultrasound image allows the user to more
naturally grasp the relationship between the manipulation of the
scanning probe and the ultrasound image. Hence, this embodiment of
the invention can help the user to reproduce the procedural steps
and interpret the live ultrasound image. It is believed, without
prejudice, that this is at least partly due to the fact that the
user can on one hand compare the live ultrasound image with the
ultrasound image video clip, and on the other hand his own handling
of the ultrasound probe (which result in the live ultrasound image)
with the demonstration of the procedural step in the primary
demonstration video clip (which corresponds to the ultrasound image
video clip).
[0019] Similar to the demonstration video clip, the ultrasound
image video clip may be the ultrasound image that has been obtained
in the examination of a real subject or a phantom or it may be the
result of a simulation based on an anatomic model.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment on the invention, the assistance
means comprises a synchroniser for synchronising the presentation
of the ultrasound image video clip with the presentation of the
demonstration video clip, so that the primary demonstration video
clip runs in synchrony with the ultrasound image video clip.
Synchrony between a demonstration video clip and the ultrasound
image video clip means that at any moment the ultrasound image
video clip shows the ultrasound image that results or would result
from the position and orientation of the ultrasound scanning probe
in the demonstration video clip at the respective moment. Thus, as
the probe moves in the demonstration video clip, the ultrasound
image in the ultrasound image video clip changes correspondingly.
Moreover, preferably if in the demonstration video clip the patient
is moved or manipulated in a way that would have an effect on the
ultrasound image obtained from the patient, the ultrasound image in
the ultrasound image video clip changes correspondingly.
[0021] The synchronised presentation of the performance of the
procedural step and the corresponding ultrasound image can make it
even easier for the user to understand the relationship between his
manipulation of the scanning probe and the resulting ultrasound
image. The user can e.g. see what motion helps in a particular
procedural step to proceed from a landmark to a target feature or
to identify a certain anatomic structure. As to the identification
of anatomic structures, it can e.g. be demonstrated that nerves can
be distinguished from bones by the fact that the nerve ultrasound
image is stronger at some incident angles than others, while the
image of bones is the same at all angles. Proper manipulation of
the probe and interpretation of the ultrasound image can thus be
facilitated.
[0022] If the demonstration video clip and the ultrasound image
video clip are pre-recorded, synchronisation will preferably
involve ensuring that the presentation of these video clips starts
synchronously on the video display. It may also involve adjusting
the speed in which one or both of the video clips are
presented.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to
the primary demonstration video clip the assistance means can
provide at least one secondary demonstration video clip, which
corresponds to one of the at least one primary demonstration video
clips. Preferably, the video display is functionally connected with
the assistance means in order to present the secondary
demonstration video clip simultaneously with the primary
demonstration video clip, the live ultrasound image, and,
preferably, the ultrasound image video clip. Thus, in addition to
the primary demonstration video clip a corresponding secondary
demonstration video clip is shown on the video display. Preferably,
the primary demonstration video clip and the corresponding
secondary demonstration video clip show different views of the same
step of the examination. This embodiment of the invention can
improve the comprehensibility of the demonstration of the
procedural step and can make it easier for the user to understand
the relationship between the motion of the probe and the resulting
ultrasound image as shown in the ultrasound image video clip.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one
demonstration video clip shows the step of the examination
procedure in a perspective view. Preferably one demonstration video
clip shows the step of the examination procedure in a
cross-sectional view. More preferably, one of the first and the
second demonstration video clips shows the perspective view while
the other shows the cross-sectional view. The perspective view can
be semi-transparent so that the user does not only see the
patient's skin but also the underlying tissue, including bones,
blood vessels, nerves and other organs. In the cross-sectional
view, preferably the cross-sectional plane essentially coincides
with the scanning plane of the ultrasound image video clip. Hence,
if the scanning plane changes over the course of the ultrasound
image video clip, so does the cross-sectional plane of the
cross-sectional view. Due to the provision of both a perspective
view and a cross-sectional view together with the ultrasound image
video clip, the user can more easily move his or her anatomical
perception from the 3-dimensional space in which the probe is
manipulated to the 2-dimensional imaging slice.
[0025] Preferably, the synchroniser synchronises the presentation
of the secondary demonstration video clip with the presentations of
the primary demonstration video clip and, preferably, the
ultrasound image video clip. In other words, the secondary
demonstration video clip runs in synchrony with the primary
demonstration video clip and the ultrasound image video clip. This
can further help the user to understand the relationship between
the motion of the probe and the resulting ultrasound image as shown
in the ultrasound image video clip.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the primary
and/or the secondary demonstration video clip, there is the imaging
slice indicated, from which the ultrasound image of the
corresponding ultrasound image video clip results or would result.
This can assist the user in interpreting the ultrasound image video
clip. The imaging slice may for example be illustrated in the form
of a quadrangular frame or a shaded area adjacent to the
representation of the probe.
[0027] To complement the graphical information provided to the user
with written information, in a preferred embodiment of the
invention text is displayed on the video display, e.g. in one or
more text fields. The text may e.g. explain in more detail how to
handle the probe of the ultrasound scanner or how to interpret the
ultrasound image and derive a diagnosis. The text field(s) may be
adjacent to one or more of the locations on the video display where
the demonstration video clips or the ultrasound image video clips
are presented.
[0028] In ultrasonography, the properties of the image in general
and its quality in particular are a function of the scanner's
imaging settings. Finding the right imaging settings may be
essential for a user to perform the procedure properly and arrive
at the correct diagnosis. In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the scanner's imaging settings are adjusted by providing
the scanner with a set of image parameters. The set of image
parameters preferably includes at least one of a group of
parameters comprising imaging depth, number of focal zones, and
imaging mode. Examples for imaging modes are B-mode, C-mode,
M-mode, PW-Doppler-mode and CW-Doppler-mode.
[0029] Preferably, the assistance means can provide at least one
set of image parameter values corresponding to at least one of the
demonstration video clips and/or ultrasound image video clips. More
preferably, the assistance means is functionally connected with the
ultrasound scanner to adjust the ultrasound scanner's imaging
settings according to the set of image parameter values that
corresponds to the demonstration video clip and/or ultrasound image
video clip to be presented on the video display. This embodiment of
the invention can help users who are inexperienced or unfamiliar
with the image parameters and the effect on the image quality to
obtain a good image. Moreover, by reducing the amount of image
manipulation which the user has to perform, it allows users to
concentrate on performing the procedure and obtaining the diagnosis
rather than dealing with the technical details of the image
generation. Advantageously, the user may thus save valuable time
that he or she would otherwise require to adjust the settings of
the ultrasound scanner. Moreover, this embodiment of the invention
may help to avoid sub-optimal images that are obtained because in
order to save time the user leaves the parameters at some typical
values all the time. Preferably, the set of image parameter values
that corresponds to the ultrasound image video clip is chosen so
that the live ultrasound image obtained is similar to the image
shown in the ultrasound image video clip. In other words, the image
parameters are essentially those that result or would result into
the image shown in the ultrasound image video clip.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assistant
means can provide at least one procedure demonstration set
comprising several primary demonstration video clips, each
demonstrating a different step in the examination procedure.
Preferably, the assistant means is functionally connected with the
video display to provide the primary demonstration video clips for
presentation on the video display. Moreover, the procedure
demonstration set preferably comprises several ultrasound image
video clips, each clip corresponding to a different one of the
primary demonstration video clips, and the assistant means is
functionally connected with the video display in order to present
the ultrasound image video clips simultaneously with the primary
demonstration video clips in the same order. Preferably, the
synchroniser can synchronise the presentation of each ultrasound
image video clip with the presentation of its corresponding primary
demonstration video clip.
[0031] A preferred procedure demonstration set comprises several
secondary demonstration video clips, each corresponding to a
different one of the primary demonstration video clips, and the
assistant means is functionally connected with the video display in
order to present the secondary demonstration video clips
simultaneously with the primary demonstration video clips in the
same order. Preferably, the synchroniser can synchronise the
presentation of each secondary presentation video clip with the
presentation of its corresponding primary demonstration video
clip.
[0032] The present invention also encompasses embodiments of the
invention which differ from the above embodiments contemplating
procedure demonstration sets of several video clips in that some of
the primary demonstration video clips are replaced by demonstration
still images. Similarly, some or all of the corresponding
ultrasound video clips and/or the secondary demonstration video
clips may be replaced by ultrasound still images or demonstration
still images, respectively. These alternative embodiments of the
invention recognize the fact that some of the procedural steps may
not involve motions relevant to the demonstration of the procedural
step and may therefore be represented by still images. These
embodiments of the invention may advantageously save storage and
computing resources. Preferably, if a primary demonstration video
clip is replaced by a still image, the corresponding ultrasound
image video clip, if any, is replaced by a corresponding still
image and the corresponding secondary demonstration video clip, if
any, is equally replaced by a still image.
[0033] The preferred procedure demonstration set will comprise one
primary demonstration video clip or still image for each step of
the examination procedure. A procedure generally comprises at least
the steps of (1) positioning the patient and finding a first
landmark detectable with the ultrasound scanner, and (2) navigating
with the scanner's probe from the landmark to the target. Further
steps may e.g. include (3) studying the target and (4) inserting a
needle. Preferably, the primary demonstration video clip or still
image presented on the video screen changes, in an appropriate
moment, to another primary demonstration video clip or still image
in which the performance of another step in the examination
procedure is demonstrated. Correspondingly, the ultrasound image
video clip or still image preferably changes to another ultrasound
image video clip or still image which corresponds to the other
primary demonstration video clip or still image and/or the
secondary demonstration video clip or still image changes to
another secondary demonstration video clip or still image which
corresponds to the other primary demonstration video clip or still
image. Preferably, the primary demonstration video clip changes
synchronously with the ultrasound image video clip and/or the
secondary demonstration video clip.
[0034] In general, if the user of the ultrasound imaging system
does not intervene, the demonstration video of the current
procedural step and the corresponding ultrasound image video are
shown continuously in a loop. In a preferred embodiment, the
ultrasound imaging system comprises a step control that is
functionally connected with the assistant means in order upon
operation of the step control by the user of the ultrasound system
to provide another primary demonstration video or still image (and,
if any, the corresponding ultrasound video clip or still image
and/or secondary demonstration video clip or still image) for
presentation on the video display. The step control may e.g.
comprise several virtual buttons on the video display that the user
can operate to choose the step he wishes to view next. Thus, e.g.,
the primary demonstration video clip presented on the video screen
may change to a subsequent primary demonstration video clip or
still image in which the performance of a subsequent, preferably
the next, step in the examination procedure is demonstrated.
Preferably, upon operation of the step control by the user, the
assistant means also provides the ultrasound image video clip or
still image and/or the secondary demonstration video corresponding
to the respective primary demonstration video clip or still image.
Hence, advantageously, by means of the step control, the user can
go sequentially through all steps of the procedure.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assistance
means can provide several procedure demonstration sets, each set
demonstrating steps of a different examination procedure.
Preferably, the ultrasound imaging system comprises a procedure
control that is functionally connected with the assistant means in
order upon operation of the procedure control by the user of the
ultrasound imaging system to select from the several procedure
demonstration sets the set to be provided for presentation on the
video display. Thus, advantageously, the user can select one of
several procedures and then go through the steps of the procedure
as described above.
[0036] The components of the ultrasound imaging system according to
the invention, in particular the assistance means, the video
display, the ultrasound scanner, the memory, the step control, and
the procedure control, can be implemented by hardware, by software,
or by a combination of both. Accordingly, in the context of the
present invention a functional connection between components of the
ultrasound imaging system preferably is a communication between
these components, involving an exchange of data, either in one
direction or in both directions. In the case of software, such
communication may simply involve the exchange of one or more
parameter values from one software component, e.g. a software
component which controls a processing unit to implement the step
control, to another software component, e.g. a software component
that controls the same processing unit to implement the assistance
means. It may, however, also involve the exchange of one or more
electric, magnetic, microwave, or optical signals from one hardware
component, e.g. the hardware component which is controlled by the
assistance means-software, to another hardware component, e.g. a
video display-hardware.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The invention is illustrated in greater details with the aid
of schematic drawings:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an ultrasound imaging system
according to the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a screen of a user interface presented on the
video display of an ultrasound imaging system according to the
invention, the screen comprising several controls and a live
ultrasound image;
[0040] FIG. 3 shows another screen of the user interface presented
on the video display, which screen comprises a procedure control;
and
[0041] FIG. 4 shows yet another screen of the user interface
presented on the video display, which screen comprises a step
control and presentations of the first demonstration video clip,
the second demonstration video clip, the ultrasound image video
clip and the ultrasound life image.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0042] An embodiment of the ultrasound imaging system 1 according
to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of a simplified
block diagram. The system comprises an ultrasound scanner 2 with a
probe 3, transmit electronics 4, receive electronics 5, and a
control unit 6. A user of the ultrasound imaging system 1 can bring
the probe 3 into contact with a patient in order to obtain a live
ultrasound image 7 of an imaging slice defined by the position and
orientation of the probe 3. The probe 3 contains transducers for
generating ultrasound signals and receiving reflections of these
ultrasound signals from the body of the patient. For example, the
transducers for ultrasound generation and reception can be provided
by an array of piezo elements. Alternatively, opto-electrical
ultrasound sensors may be used for the reception of the reflected
ultrasound signals. The probe 3 is connected via a flexible cable
with the rest of the ultrasound system 1 so that it can be easily
manipulated by the user during the examination.
[0043] The transmit electronics 4 comprise multiple channels that
are connected directly or via one or more multiplexers to the
ultrasound generating elements of the probe 3, for example piezo
elements. Electric pulses are generated in each individual channel,
and the relative timing of the pulses can be varied accurately
enough to perform a transmit focusing in the lateral direction at
different depths. The transmit electronics are implemented as a
mixed signal electronics board or an ASIC, and include high voltage
pulsers for generating the electric pulses.
[0044] The electric signals generated by the receiving piezo
elements or opto-electrical ultrasound sensors in response to the
reflected ultrasound signals are processed by the receive
electronics 5. Processing includes the amplification of the
analogue signals coming from the receiving transducers and the
conversion into digital signals. The receive electronics 5 comprise
a mixed signal electronics board or ASIC, which includes amplifiers
and analogue-to-digital converters.
[0045] Both, the transmit electronics 4 and the receive electronics
5 are controlled by the ultrasound scanner's 2 control unit 6. The
control unit's 6 tasks includes beam-forming and the processing of
the digital signals received from the receive electronics 5. For
this purpose, the control unit 6 comprises a digital signal
processor (DSP), e.g. in the form of a field programmable gate
array (FPGA).
[0046] The ultrasound imaging system 1 further comprises a video
display 8 which is in communication with the scanner's 2 control
unit 6 via a processing unit 9 in order to present a life
ultrasound image 7 based on the ultrasound signals received by the
probe 3. In the present example, the processing unit 9 comprises a
CPU and GPU and performs its tasks at least partially by means of a
software program. It performs scan-conversion and image processing
functions to prepare the signals coming from the control unit 6 for
presentation on the video display 8. In addition, the assistance
means in the present example is software-implemented in the
processing unit 9 so that, amongst other things, the processing
unit 9 provides primary and secondary demonstration videos clips or
still images and ultrasound image videos or still images for
presentation on the video display 8. For this purpose, the videos
and still images are stored in a memory 10 in an appropriate
directory structure, so that they can easily be retrieved by the
processing unit 9 for presentation on the video display 8.
Moreover, parameter values corresponding to the ultrasound image
video clips are stored in the memory and retrieved by the
processing unit 9 for adjusting the settings of the ultrasound
scanner 6. A suitable memory 10 is a flash memory drive. In the
memories directory structure, each procedure has a different
directory containing the required video or image files of all steps
in this procedure.
[0047] The processing unit 9 generates on the video display 8 a
user interface comprising multiple screens, three of which are
shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The screens comprise software-implemented
controls and serve to present the live ultrasound image along with
video clips, still images, and written information. FIG. 2 shows a
first screen 11 of the user interface which comprises the life
ultrasound image 7 on the right hand side and various controls 12,
13, 14 on the left hand side. The controls can be operated via
appropriate input means, e.g. a computer mouse or touch screen
sensors on the video display 8. With the controls 12, 13, the user
can, adjust various settings of the ultrasound imaging system 1,
make measurements and annotations and administer patient records.
Moreover, there is a procedure control 14 in the top left corner,
which leads the user to the procedure selection screen 15 shown in
FIG. 3 which replaces the screen of FIG. 2.
[0048] On the procedure selection screen 15, the user finds in an
area on the left hand side a procedure control 16 comprising a
number of virtual tabs 17, 18, 19, 20 and buttons 21 representing
different procedures. The uppermost tab 17, for example, produces a
list of buttons 21 for procedures regarding the field of regional
anaesthesia, while the tab 18 below produces a list of procedure
buttons 21 regarding vascular access. There is also a tab 20 which
produces a list of "favourite" procedure buttons 21, which list the
user can customize to include the procedures that he or she uses
most often. By operating one of the procedure buttons 21, the user
can choose the corresponding procedures and, on the right hand side
22 of the screen, obtains some general information regarding the
procedure, generally in the form of still images. Pressing a cue
card button 23 on the bottom of the screen 15 leads the user to a
cue card screen 24 corresponding to the selected procedure. The cue
card screen 24 replaces the procedure selection screen 15 of FIG.
3.
[0049] On the cue card screen 24 shown in FIG. 4, on the bottom
left hand side a step control 25 is shown which comprises several
virtual tabs 26 representing the steps of the procedure and
arranged from top to bottom in the order in which they have to be
performed. The user can select the step he seeks to perform next by
operating the corresponding tab 26 of the step control 25. As a
result, on top of the cue card screen 24, the primary demonstration
video clip 27 or still image, the secondary demonstration video
clip 28 or still image and the ultrasound image video clip 29 or
still image, all retrieved by the processing unit 9 from the memory
10, are shown in that order from left to right. In the bottom right
corner of the cue card screen 24, the life video image 7 is shown.
If the three images 27, 28, 29 in the upper row are video clips,
they are synchronised by means of a synchroniser
software-implemented in the processing unit 9, so that a movement
of the probe 3 shown in the primary demonstration video clip 27
corresponds to a movement of the probe 3 in the secondary
demonstration video clip 28 and the representation of the
ultrasound image of this slice in the ultrasound image video clip
29.
[0050] More particularly, in the example of FIG. 4, there is a
primary demonstration video clip 27 that shows the movement of the
probe 3, e.g. from a landmark to a target, in a perspective view
based on an anatomic model of a human, a secondary demonstration
video clip 28 that shows the movement in a cross-sectional view
based on the same anatomic model, and an ultrasound image video
clip 29 that shows the ultrasound image that would result from the
procedure. The body of the patient in the perspective view is
semi-transparent (not shown in the Figure), so that the spinal
cord, the mayor blood vessels and the thyroid gland are visible.
Both, in the perspective view of the first demonstration video clip
27 and the cross-sectional view of the second demonstration video
clip 28, a shaded quadrangle indicates the imaging slice that would
corresponds to the ultrasound image shown in the ultrasound image
video clip 29. Below the areas on the screen where the video clips
or still images are shown, text boxes are 30 providing additional
information.
[0051] Moreover, the image parameter values corresponding to the
ultrasound image video clips 29 are retrieved by the processing
unit 9 from the memory 10. The processing unit 9 sends these
parameters to the ultrasound scanner 2 to adjust the ultrasound
scanner's 2 imaging settings to those suitable for the current
procedural step.
[0052] Using the perspective view, the cross-sectional view and the
corresponding ultrasound image of the demonstration, the user's
anatomic perception is guided from tree dimensions to two
dimensions and from there to the ultrasound image. By comparison of
the demonstration with his own handling of the probe 3 and the live
ultrasound image 7, the user can easily reproduce the demonstrated
step of the procedure and interpret the live image he obtains.
[0053] The features described in the above description, claims and
figures can be relevant to the invention in any combination.
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