FR3099984A1 - Changing Ultrasound Imaging Guide Mode Dynamics - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of dynamically changing an ultrasound imaging guidance mode, comprising selecting a predetermined diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), identifying a mode of operation of said ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) system for a first sequence of views, placing said system in the identified operating mode, acquiring images of a target organ using said system in association with views of the first sequence, detecting, in the images acquired, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence with a different operating mode is established and, in response to the detection, the display on a display screen of a recommendation for change operating mode, placing said system in the different operating mode, and acquiring new images of the target organ using said system in conjunction with a diff sequence erent of additional views. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Ultrasound Imaging Guidance Mode Dynamic Change

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to ultrasound imaging and, more particularly, to the acquisition of ultrasound images.

Description of the Prior Art

Medical imaging refers to the process of creating a visual representation of an internal part of a mammalian body for the purpose of clinical analysis and medical intervention. Medical imaging aims to reveal internal structures hidden by the external envelope of the body in order to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Medical imaging includes several different image acquisition methodologies and corresponding radiological device technologies. Conventional techniques include X-ray radiography including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography or medical ultrasound, endoscopy, elastography, tactile imaging, thermography, medical photography and functional nuclear imaging techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). Depending on the intended use of the images, medical diagnosis or targeting of specific tissues or a particular organ or specific part of an organ, different techniques and devices may be preferred for different images.

Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to view three-dimensional structures inside the body of a living being. Because they are captured in real time, ultrasound images also show the movements of the body's internal organs as well as the blood flowing through the human body's blood vessels and the stiffness of the tissues. Unlike X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging does not involve ionizing radiation, allowing prolonged use of ultrasound imaging without the risk of damaging tissues and internal organs through exposure. extended to radiation

To acquire ultrasound images, during an ultrasound examination, a transducer, usually called a probe, is placed directly on the skin or inside a bodily opening. The probe is coupled to an image generation circuit that includes circuitry designed to transmit and receive signals to and from the probe, and may include a beam shaper, although synthetic d aperture can use retrospective imaging which reduces the need for beam shaping and scan conversion functions. A thin layer of gel is applied to the skin so that the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the probe into the body through the medium formed by the gel. The ultrasound image is produced based on a measurement of the reflection of ultrasound waves from body structures. The intensity of the ultrasound signal, measured as the amplitude of the reflection of the detected sound wave, and the time taken for the sound wave to pass through the body, provide the information necessary to calculate an image of target structures of the body. The "Doppler" effect can also be used in ultrasound imaging to measure the speed and direction of fluid flow in body structures (i.e., blood).

Ultrasound imaging allows scanning modes of several types. These modes interrogate the target using different transducer pulsation and image generation techniques to visualize anatomy and function for different clinical purposes. For example, two-dimensional imaging allows visualization of structures in two dimensions. Color Doppler ultrasound imaging provides color mapping of blood flow, combined with a two-dimensional image. Pulsed wave Doppler and continuous wave Doppler ultrasound imaging provides a spectral histogram of blood flow velocity and amplitude. Stress imaging visualizes tissue elasticity. Three-dimensional mode visualizes structure and blood flow in three dimensions. The use of different scanning modes is important to enable a comprehensive diagnosis of health conditions.

Compared to other well-known medical imaging methods, ultrasound imaging offers several advantages to diagnosticians and patients. First and foremost, ultrasound imaging provides real-time images. Additionally, ultrasound imaging requires equipment that is portable and can be brought to the patient's bedside. Also, from a practical standpoint, ultrasound imaging equipment is considerably less expensive than other medical imaging equipment, and as mentioned, it does not use harmful ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, ultrasound imaging is not without drawbacks.

For example, in some cases, an attempted view of a target organ may be incomplete, with key features of the target organ being omitted from view due to anatomical limitations or improper placement of the imaging sensor. In this regard, with respect to the term "view", ultrasound imaging of a target region of the body can be obtained in a large number of different "views" using the ultrasound probe. Each view can be obtained by a combination of probe position and orientation so that depending on the angle of approach of the ultrasound probe, one will generally obtain different perspective "views" of the target region. Generally, depending on the intended use for the images, medical diagnosis or targeting of specific tissues or a particular organ or part thereof, one may prefer a particular view of the target region presented on an image. ultrasound. Importantly, different views of the same target region produce images emphasizing different anatomical features, so certain views are known to be most likely to produce images of a feature of interest. Additionally, different views may also be required to perform measurements that will be used for diagnostic purposes.

Therefore, depending on the particular feature of interest, the skilled operator must first know the desired view to obtain the best images of the feature of interest, and then, depending on the part of the body that is selected for imaging and the desired view, he must know where to initially place the ultrasound probe on the body. The skilled operator must then know how to spatially orient the probe and, finally, he must know where to move the probe in order to acquire the desired images, which includes the acquisition of additional views. Typically, the ultrasound imaging operator is guided in the initial positioning, orientation, and movement of the probe by visual feedback provided by the images produced during ultrasound imaging. Therefore, probe navigation is essentially a manual process consisting of iteration of trial and error and requires specialized knowledge and expertise on the part of the ultrasound imaging operator, especially for the selection of a view path that the probe must follow in order to produce a complete examination.

Importantly, given the nature of conventional ultrasound imaging, images obtained of a target region of the body can be of variable quality. Specifically, depending on the operator, the clarity and focus of a medical image can vary. Additionally, external factors such as anatomical features of the body can interfere with the clarity of key target organ features despite proper positioning of the imaging sensor. However, while certain anatomical features may prevent obtaining a quality image of a target region in one view, a different view of the same target region or even a slightly different target region will likely provide images. better quality of the anatomical characteristics whose imaging is desired by the practitioner. As can be seen, the production of quality ultrasound images then remains highly dependent on a qualified operator.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention overcome deficiencies in the art with respect to ultrasound imaging and provide a new and unobvious method, system, and computer program product for dynamic guidance mode switching. ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of dynamically changing ultrasound imaging guidance mode includes selecting a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system and identifying a mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system for a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow in correspondence with the selected procedure. The method further includes placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system into the identified mode of operation and acquiring images of a target organ using the computer system in conjunction with the views of the first sequence of the workflow . Finally, the method comprises detecting, in the acquired images, a characteristic of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system and, in response to the detection, displaying on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system, placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system in the different operating mode whose the match to the feature was established, and the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound diagnostic computer system in conjunction with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic of the target organ which requires a measurement at the using a different mode among the operating modes of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system. In response, a different one of the modes of operation is identified in association with the identified measure. The different one of the operating modes is then presented as a mode contemporaneous with the operating modes to perform the identified measurement. An example of a measurement is a measurement of the velocity of a fluid – namely the velocity of blood near the target organ.

According to one aspect of the embodiment, the identified mode of operation is either a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode or a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode. According to another aspect of the embodiment, the different mode of operation is a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode. According to yet another aspect of the embodiment, the different mode of operation is a Doppler type ultrasound imaging mode, such as a color flow Doppler type ultrasound imaging mode, a pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound, a continuous wave Doppler ultrasound imaging mode or a tissue Doppler ultrasound imaging mode. Another possible mode of operation is a stress ultrasound imaging mode. According to yet another aspect of the embodiment, the target organ is a heart and the characteristic is a velocity at a valve stenosis that exceeds a threshold value. Finally, according to yet another aspect of the embodiment, the method further comprises annotating a digital file storing the additional images acquired with a textual reference to the recommended operating mode change.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a data processing system is configured for dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode switching. The system includes a computer having a memory and at least one processor, a display screen coupled to the computer, an image generation circuit coupled to the computer and the display screen, and a ultrasound imaging comprising a transducer connected to the image generation circuit. The system also includes an ultrasound imaging guidance dynamic progression module executing in computer memory. The module includes program code activated, when executed by the computer processor, to select an ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of the computer, identify an operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe to a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow in correspondence with the selected procedure, place the ultrasound imaging probe in the identified mode of operation and acquire images of a target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe in association with the views of the first sequence of the workflow.

Importantly, the program code is further enabled to detect, in the acquired images, a feature of the target organ that is mapped to a different mode of operation of the ultrasound imaging probe and to respond to detecting by displaying on a display screen of the computer a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe, by placing the ultrasound imaging probe in the different operating mode whose correspondence with the feature has been established, and acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe in conjunction with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description below, and in part will be obvious from reading the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and achieved by means of the elements and combinations particularly mentioned in the appended claims. It will be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are provided by way of example and explanation only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this description, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, help to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are currently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements and instruments shown. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change process;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an ultrasound diagnostic data processing system configured for dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change; And

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change process.

Embodiments of the invention provide dynamic change of ultrasound imaging guidance mode. According to one embodiment of the invention, an ultrasound diagnostic computer system is placed in a first mode of operation in which images of a target organ are acquired according to a sequence of views of a workflow. During image acquisition, a feature may be detected in the acquired images. The characteristic is then mapped to a different mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system. Thus, in response to the detection of the characteristic, there is displayed in the ultrasound diagnostic computer system a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system for a different operating mode whose correspondence with the characteristic has established, including a change in the transducer used in connection with the acquisition of ultrasound images. Next, the ultrasound diagnostic computer system is placed in the different mode of operation and additional images of the target organ are acquired in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow.

By way of further illustration, Figure 1 schematically depicts a dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change process. As shown in Figure 1, an ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 is placed in an initial mode of operation 160, for example a two-dimensional imaging mode, such as an ultrasound image acquisition mode B . Next, the ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 acquires initial images 120A of the target organ according to the initial mode of operation 160. An image analysis part 130 of a dynamic mode change logic 100 processes the initial images acquired 120A to detect a particular feature 140 in the initial images 120A. In this regard, feature 140 may include a prediction of a disease state of the target organ, e.g., target organ blood flow characteristics, and image analysis portion 130 may include a trained convolutional neural network to characterize the fact that images contain specific characteristics including the particular characteristic 140.

Upon detection of feature 140, dynamic mode change logic 100 maps feature 140 to a corresponding operating mode of ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110. For example, dynamic mode change logic 100 may consult a table 150 to identify the recommended operating mode 170, in response to which the dynamic mode change logic 100 presents on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 an operating mode change instruction to switch from the initial mode of operation 160 to the recommended mode of operation 170, for example a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) transducer image acquisition mode. The table 150 can identify a measurement which should be performed and which requires a different mode of operation, and recommend the change of mode so as to produce images allowing the measurement to be performed. Then, additional images 120B are acquired according to the recommended mode of operation 170.

Once the additional images 120B have been acquired, the initial acquired images 120A and the additional images 120B are included in an ultrasound diagnostic report 180 with an annotation 190 of the mode change recommendation to switch from the initial operating mode 160 to the recommended operating mode 170. Further, since the image analysis portion 130 of the dynamic mode switching logic 100 is enabled to detect a specific mode in which the acquired images 120A, 120B were acquired, the modes detected are further included in report 180, within annotations 190. Finally, since the image analysis portion 130 of the dynamic mode switching logic 100 is enabled to detect a specific view that the acquired images 120A, 120B have been acquired, the specific views are further also included in report 180, within annotations 190. Thus, a diagnostician reviewing report 190 will be certain that the required mode change has been made in consequence of the detection of the feature 140 in the initial images 120A and that the additional images 120B were acquired using a recommended mode 170 with the appropriate views.

The method described in connection with FIG. 1 can be implemented in a data processing system for ultrasound diagnosis. By way of further illustration, Figure 2 schematically depicts an ultrasound diagnostic data processing system configured for dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change. The system includes a host computing system 210 which includes a computer having at least one processor, memory and a display screen. The host computer system 210 also includes a data storage means 250. The host computer system 210 is also coupled to an ultrasound imaging system 240 adapted to store in memory ultrasound images acquired by the positioning of an ultrasound transducer. imaging 230 in proximity to a target organ of interest of a mammalian subject and actuating a beam shaping circuit 220. In this regard, the imaging transducer 230 may include a multimode phase shift transducer, or a non-imaging CW Doppler mode transducer, to name just two examples. As such, the ultrasound imaging system 240 can operate in one of a plurality of modes 200, such as those associated with a multi-mode phase shift transducer - two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode, Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode, color flow mapping mode, pulsed wave (PW) mode and CW mode, also associated with the transducer at non-imaging CW Doppler mode.

The host computer system 210 is coupled so as to communicate with a fixed storage means (not shown), either local or remote ("cloud"), on which are stored one or more neural networks 260 and a programmatic interface of the networks 260. The neural network 260 is trained to characterize one or more characteristics of the target organ, for example one or more physical components of the target organ, or the physical performance of the target organ. To do this, images of a specified view of the target organ acquired by ultrasound imaging system 240 are provided to neural network 260, which then accesses the programmatic interface so that neural network 260 can output the characterization of the images together with a confidence index of this characterization. The ultrasound imaging system 240 then restores on the display screen of the host computer system 210 not only the images, but also the characterization, and possibly the confidence index of this characterization.

Additionally, a second neural network 270 may be trained to characterize guidance instructions regarding the contemporaneously acquired target organ images. In this regard, with respect to a particular view of views 290, the second neural network 270 is trained to produce recommended guidance to achieve the optimal target organ image acquisition for that particular view of views 290, in connection with images presented contemporaneously on a display screen of host computer system 210. For example, in connection with cardiac imaging, views 290 may include a long axis parasternal view, a short axis parasternal view, a apical view of two, three, four or five cavities or a subcostal view, to name a few examples. To this end, when the target organ images acquired contemporaneously for the particular view of views 290 are presented to the neural network 270, the neural network produces a recommended motion or orientation of the ultrasound imaging transducer 230 in order to acquire generated images considered acceptable for the particular view of views 290.

Importantly, a dynamic mode change module 300 is coupled to the ultrasound imaging system 240. The dynamic mode change module 300 includes computer program instructions which, when executing in memory of the host computer system 210, are enabled to group together a sequence of the different views 290 as a workflow, place the ultrasound imaging system 240 into a specified one of the operating modes 200, and, for each of the views 290 of the sequence, retrieving from the data storage means 250 guidance instructions necessary to optimally acquire images for whichever of the views 290 has been selected, according to which of the operating modes 200 has been specified, in using a corresponding suitable 230 ultrasound imaging transducer.

The program instructions are further enabled to receive, from the neural network 260, when characterizing images acquired in real time for a selected one of the views 250 of a workflow, an indication of a feature of interest, such as the presence of a target organ component indicative of disease, or visualized target organ performance indicative of disease. An example is threshold blood flow through a portion of the target organ. In the cardiac context, for example, blood velocity through a valve can be an indication of valve stenosis.

The module 300 program instructions are then adapted to correlate the characteristic to another, different, of the operating modes 200 in a table 280, and to select one or more of the views 290. In addition, the module program instructions 300 are activated to retrieve guidance from the data storage means 250 for which of the views 290 is correlated and to display on the display screen of the host computer system 210 a message recommending a change in mode of operation, including the selection of a different ultrasound imaging transducer. Finally, once the program instructions are activated to display the retrieved guidance on the display screen of the host computer system 210 so as to facilitate the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the imaging transducer ultrasound different in that of the 200 modes which has been recommended.

In yet another illustration of the operation of the dynamic mode change module 300, Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an ultrasound imaging guidance dynamic mode change process. Beginning at block 310, a workflow is selected including a plurality of different views of a target organ. At block 320, a first of the views is selected for target organ imaging and at block 330, guidance instructions for the first view are retrieved from memory for display on a system user interface. ultrasound imaging. In this regard, the guidance instructions may be retrieved from a fixed data storage medium, independent of any image acquired contemporaneously for the first view, or the guidance instructions may be selected based on data provided by a neural network trained to produce guidance instructions for a particular view based on the content of images contemporaneously acquired for the first view. In either case, at block 340, the guidance instructions are displayed on the user interface of the ultrasound imaging system.

At block 305, images are acquired in the ultrasound imaging system for the target organ, using a first imaging transducer with the ultrasound imaging system placed in an initial mode of operation. At decision block 360, it is determined whether or not there is a particular feature related to the images acquired in real time. For example, the real-time images can be subjected to a trained neural network to classify characteristics such as the presence of a physical component of the target organ indicative of disease, or the physical functioning of the target organ indicative of a disease. Examples include the detection of a state of a heart valve indicative of disease, a threshold velocity of blood passing through the valve indicative of disease. If it is determined that the particular feature does not exist in the acquired images, at decision block 370 it is determined whether there are additional views to be processed in the workflow. If so, a next view of the workflow is selected and the process repeats at block 330. Otherwise, the process proceeds to block 390.

At block 390, in response to a determination that the particular feature has been detected in connection with the acquired images, the feature is correlated to a different mode of operation and to a set of one or more views. At block 400, a message is generated on the user interface of the ultrasound imaging system to prompt to change operating mode to a different operating mode and, optionally, to change imaging transducer. Next, at block 410, guidance for a first view associated with the different mode of operation is retrieved and, at block 420, guidance for the first view of the different mode of operation is presented on the user interface for the imaging system. by ultrasound. Finally, the process returns to decision block 350, where new real-time images are acquired using the different mode of operation and, optionally, the different imaging transducer, and, at decision block 360, it is determined if additional features are detected in the newly acquired images.

Next, at decision block 370, if it is determined that no additional views remain to be processed in the workflow, a report is generated including the acquired images, where each image is annotated to indicate a corresponding view and a operating mode used to acquire the image, and also an indication of the operating mode change recommendation. In this way, a diagnostician reviewing the report will not only recognize the detection of the characteristic giving rise to the recommendation for a change in operating mode and, optionally, image transducer, but also be certain that the required mode change was performed to acquire the additional images using the recommended views and using the recommended imaging transducer.

The present invention may be embodied in a system, method, computer program product, or any combination thereof. The computer program product may include one or more computer-readable storage media containing computer-readable program instructions for causing a processor to perform aspects of the present invention. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction executing device. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device , or any suitable combination thereof.

The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer-readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device, via a network. Computer-readable program instructions may run entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer, and partially on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Aspects of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with flow charts and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams, and combinations of the blocks of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which run through the computer processor or other programmable data processing device, create means of implementing the functions/actions specified in the block(s) of flowcharts and/or block diagrams. These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can control a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to operate in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium on which instructions are stored comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/action specified in the block(s) of flowcharts and/or block diagrams.

The computer-readable program instructions may be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable device, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executing on the computer, other programmable device, or other device, implement the functions/actions specified in the block(s) of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams.

The flowchart and block diagrams of the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block of the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, a segment or a portion of instructions, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing one or more specified logical functions. In certain other embodiments, the functions noted in the block may be executed in an order other than that noted in the figures. For example, two blocks presented one after the other may, in fact, be executed essentially at the same time, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functionality in play. also that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart, and combinations of blocks of the block diagrams and/or flowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware systems that perform the specified functions or actions or combinations of computer instructions and special purpose hardware.

Finally, the terminology used herein is for the sole purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. It will be understood that the terms "includes" and/or "comprising", as used herein, specify the presence of mentioned features, entities, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not exclude the presence or adding one or more other features, entities, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The structures, materials, actions and corresponding equivalents of all the means or steps and functional elements mentioned in the following claims are intended to include all and any structures, materials or actions for the performance of the function in combination with other claimed items, as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been given by way of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form described. Many modifications and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment has been chosen and described in order to better explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for different embodiments having different modifications such as appropriate for the particular use envisaged.

The invention having thus been described in detail and with reference to its embodiments, it will be obvious that modifications and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims below.

Claims (20)

A method of dynamically changing ultrasound imaging guidance mode, comprising:
- selecting a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110);
- identifying a mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) for a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow in correspondence with the selected procedure;
- placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) into the identified mode of operation and acquiring images of a target organ using the computer system in conjunction with the views of the first sequence of the workflow;
- the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) and,
- in response to the detection, the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), the placement of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in the different mode of operation whose characteristic has been matched, and acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) a recommendation to change operating mode comprises:
- identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ which requires measurement using a mode of operation different from the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); And
- selecting the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; And
- displaying a change recommendation for the different mode of operation on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110). A method according to claim 1, wherein the identified operating mode is an operating mode selected from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode. A method according to claim 1, wherein the different mode of operation is a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode. A method according to claim 1, wherein the different mode of operation is a Doppler type ultrasound imaging mode. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target organ is a heart and the characteristic is a velocity at a valvular stenosis which exceeds a threshold value. A method according to claim 1, further comprising annotating a digital file storing the acquired additional images with a textual reference to the recommended operating mode change. A data processing system configured for a method of dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode, comprising:
- a computer having a memory and at least one processor;
- A display screen coupled to the computer;
- an image generation circuit (220) coupled to the computer and to the display screen;
- an ultrasound imaging probe (230) comprising a transducer connected to the image generation circuit; And
- a dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change module (300) executing in the memory of the computer, the module comprising program code activated, when executed by the processor of the computer, for execute :
- the selection of a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure in the memory of the computer;
- identifying a mode of operation of the ultrasound imaging probe for a first sequence of views (290) stored in memory as a workflow in correspondence with the selected procedure;
- placing the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in the identified mode of operation and acquiring images of a target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in conjunction with the views of the first sequence of the workflow;
- the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which it is established a correspondence with a different mode of operation of the ultrasound imaging probe; And
- in response to the detection, displaying on a computer display screen a recommendation to change the mode of operation of the ultrasound imaging probe (230), placing the imaging probe ultrasound imaging (230) in the different mode of operation whose feature has been matched, and acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in conjunction with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow. A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is configured to execute the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change operating mode by:
- identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ which requires measurement using a mode of operation different from the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); And
- selecting the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; And
- displaying a change recommendation for the different mode of operation on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110). A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is configured to select the identified mode of operation from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode. A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is configured to select the different mode of operation as a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode. A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is configured to select the different mode of operation as a Doppler type ultrasound imaging mode. A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is configured to identify, in a heart as a target organ, a velocity characteristic at valve stenosis that exceeds a threshold value. A system according to claim 8, wherein the module is further configured for annotating a digital file storing the additional images acquired with a textual reference to the recommended operating mode change. A computer program product for dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance mode change, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions, the program instructions being executable for performing:
- selecting a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110);
- identifying a mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) for a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow in correspondence with the selected procedure;
- placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) into the identified mode of operation and acquiring images of a target organ using the computer system in conjunction with the views of the first sequence of the workflow;
- the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) and,
- in response to the detection, the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the mode of operation of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), the placement of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in the different mode of operation whose characteristic has been matched, and acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to effect display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change operating mode by :
- identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ which requires measurement using a mode of operation different from the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); And
- selecting the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; And
- displaying a change recommendation for the different mode of operation on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110). A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the identified mode of operation from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and an imaging mode three-dimensional ultrasound. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the different mode of operation as a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the different mode of operation as a Doppler type ultrasound imaging mode. A computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to identify, in a heart as a target organ, a rate characteristic at valve stenosis which exceeds a threshold value.