Split-screen display system and standardized methods for ultrasound image acquisition and multi-frame data processing
First Claim
1. An automated method for obtaining vascular properties measurements from multiple, sequential ultrasound image frames, the method comprising:
- obtaining ultrasound images from a standardized region of a common carotid artery, the images characterized as a multiplicity of digitized sequential image frames taken over at least two cardiac cycles;
storing the multiplicity of sequential frames;
displaying a first digitized frame on a computer display;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a first interface region of a portion of an arterial wall structure;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a second interface region of the portion of the arterial wall structure;
automatically identifying a first actual interface edge in a region proximate the boundary location of the first interface region;
automatically identifying a second actual interface edge in a region proximate the boundary location of the second interface region;
storing the first and second actual interface edges;
displaying a subsequent digitized sequential frame on the display; and
automatically establishing approximate boundary locations of the first and second interface regions of the subsequent frame on the basis of the automatically identified first and second actual interface edges of the first frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A standardized acquisition methodology assists operators to accurately replicate high resolution B-mode ultrasound images obtained over several spaced-apart examinations utilizing a split-screen display in which the arterial ultrasound image from an earlier examination is displayed on one side of the screen while a real-time “live” ultrasound image from a current examination is displayed next to the earlier image on the opposite side of the screen. By viewing both images, whether simultaneously or alternately, while manually adjusting the ultrasound transducer, an operator is able to bring into view the real-time image that best matches a selected image from the earlier ultrasound examination. Utilizing this methodology, dynamic material properties of arterial structures, such as IMT and diameter, are measured in a standard region over successive image frames. Each frame of the sequence has its echo edge boundaries automatically determined by using the immediately prior frame'"'"'s true echo edge coordinates as initial boundary conditions. Computerized echo edge recognition and tracking over multiple successive image frames enhances measurement of arterial diameter and IMT and allows for improved vascular dimension measurements, including vascular stiffness and IMT determinations.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An automated method for obtaining vascular properties measurements from multiple, sequential ultrasound image frames, the method comprising:
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obtaining ultrasound images from a standardized region of a common carotid artery, the images characterized as a multiplicity of digitized sequential image frames taken over at least two cardiac cycles;
storing the multiplicity of sequential frames;
displaying a first digitized frame on a computer display;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a first interface region of a portion of an arterial wall structure;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a second interface region of the portion of the arterial wall structure;
automatically identifying a first actual interface edge in a region proximate the boundary location of the first interface region;
automatically identifying a second actual interface edge in a region proximate the boundary location of the second interface region;
storing the first and second actual interface edges;
displaying a subsequent digitized sequential frame on the display; and
automatically establishing approximate boundary locations of the first and second interface regions of the subsequent frame on the basis of the automatically identified first and second actual interface edges of the first frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automated method for obtaining vascular properties measurements from multiple, sequential ultrasound image frames, the method comprising:
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obtaining ultrasound images from a standardized region of a common carotid artery, the images characterized as a multiplicity of digitized sequential image frames taken over at least two cardiac cycles;
storing the multiplicity of sequential frames;
displaying a first digitized frame on a computer display;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a lumen-intima interface of a standardized segment of an arterial wall structure;
establishing an approximate boundary location of a media adventitia interface of the standardized segment of the arterial wall structure;
automatically identifying an actual lumen-intima interface edge in a region proximate the approximate boundary location of the lumen-intima interface;
automatically identifying an actual media adventitia interface edge in a region proximate the approximate boundary location of the media adventitia interface;
storing a representation of the identified lumen-intima and media adventitia interfaces;
displaying a subsequent digitized sequential frame on the display; and
automatically establishing approximate boundary locations of the lumen-intima and media adventitia interfaces of the subsequent frame on the basis of the automatically identified lumen-intima and media adventitia interface edges of the first frame. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An automated method for obtaining vascular properties measurements from multiple, sequential ultrasound image frames, the method comprising:
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obtaining ultrasound images from a standardized region of a common carotid artery, the images characterized as a multiplicity of digitized sequential image frames taken over at least two cardiac cycles;
establishing a standardized scale within the region, the scale having a predetermined size characterized by a number of image pixels;
automatically identifying a lumen-intima interface edge in a wall portion of the artery;
automatically identifying a media adventitia interface edge in the wall portion;
storing a representation of the identified lumen-intima and media adventitia interfaces;
displaying a subsequent digitized sequential frame on the display; and
automatically establishing approximate boundary locations of the lumen-intima and media adventitia interfaces of the subsequent frame on the basis of the automatically identified lumen-intima and media adventitia interface edges of the first frame. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification