Ultrasound system and method for facilitating a reproducible ultrasound imaging environment
First Claim
1. A method for automatically comparing ultrasound parameters, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) archiving a first ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image;
then(b) with an ultrasound imaging system retrieving said first ultrasound parameter, and then(c) with the ultrasound imaging ststem, automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound parameter to a second ultrasound parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound system and method are presented for facilitating a reproducible ultrasound imaging environment by reducing the variability in ultrasound parameters as a source of discrepancy when performing serial studies. In this way, an operator can rigorously compare ultrasound images from a single patient and can ensure that a plurality of patients are imaged in the same way. Additionally, an imaging environment can be duplicated on a plurality of ultrasound systems. This is especially helpful in ensuring that several machines are configured in the same way and in tracking down unexpected behavior (e.g., hardware or software bugs or anomalies).
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for automatically comparing ultrasound parameters, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) archiving a first ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image;
then(b) with an ultrasound imaging system retrieving said first ultrasound parameter, and then (c) with the ultrasound imaging ststem, automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound parameter to a second ultrasound parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for automatically implementing a retrieved user-adjusted ultrasound parameter, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) archiving a user-adjusted ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image;
then(b) with an ultrasound imaging system, retrieving said user-adjusted ultrasound parameter; and
then(c) with the ultrasound imaging system, automatically implementing said retrieved user-adjusted ultrasound parameter before acquiring a second ultrasound image. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for automatically displaying a retrieved ultrasound parameter, said method comprising the steps of;
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(a) archiving an ultrasound parameter comprising at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a user-controlled B-mode field of view parameter, a user-controlled region displaying color-Doppler information parameter, and a user-controlled depth-dependent gain compensation parameter;
then(b) with an ultrasound imaging system retrieving said ultrasound parameter; and
then(c) with the ultrasound imaging system, automatically displaying said retrieved ultrasound parameter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for automatically comparing and implementing ultrasound parameters, said method comprising the steps of
(a) with an ultrasound imaging system, retrieving a first ultrasound system identification parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image; -
(b) with the ultrasound imaging system, automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound system identification parameter to a second ultrasound system identification parameter; (c) with the ultrasound imaging system, automatically notifying an operator of a discrepancy between said retrieved first ultrasound system identification parameter and said second ultrasound system identification parameter; (d) with the ultrasound imagine system, retrieving a first ultrasound user-adjusted parameter characteristic of said first ultrasound image; and (e) with the ultrasound imaging system automatically implementing said retrieved first ultrasound user-adjusted parameter before acquiring a second ultrasound image. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
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an ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; a storage device coupled with said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device a first ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image; means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said first ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and means for automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound parameter to a second ultrasound parameter. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
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an ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; a storage device coupled with said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device a user-adjusted ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image; means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said user-adjusted ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and means for automatically implementing said retrieved user-adjusted ultrasound parameter in said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system before acquiring a second ultrasound image.
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38. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
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an ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; a storage device coupled with said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device an ultrasound parameter comprising at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a user-controlled B-mode field of view parameter, a user-controlled region displaying color-Doppler information parameter, and a user-controlled depth-dependent gain compensation parameter; means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and means for automatically displaying said retrieved ultrasound parameter.
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39. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
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an ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; a storage device coupled with said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system; means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving a first ultrasound system identification parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image from said storage device; means, coupled with said storage device, for automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound system identification parameter to a second ultrasound system identification parameter; means for automatically notifying an operator of a discrepancy between said retrieved first ultrasound system identification parameter and said second ultrasound system identification parameter; means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving a first ultrasound user-adjusted parameter characteristic of said first ultrasound image; and means for automatically implementing said retrieved first ultrasound user-adjusted parameter in said ultrasound image acquisition, processing, and display system before acquiring a second ultrasound image.
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40. A medical diagnostic imaging network comprising:
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a first ultrasound imaging system; a storage device remotely located from and coupled with said first ultrasound imaging system; first means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device a first ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image of said first ultrasound imaging system; second means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said first ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and third means for automatically comparing said retrieved first ultrasound parameter to a second ultrasound parameter of an ultrasound imaging system coupled with said storage device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A medical diagnostic imaging network comprising:
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a first ultrasound imaging system; a storage device remotely located from and coupled with said first ultrasound imaging system; first means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device a user-adjusted ultrasound parameter characteristic of a first ultrasound image of said first ultrasound imaging system; second means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said user-adjusted ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and third means for automatically implementing said retrieved user-adjusted ultrasound parameter in an ultrasound imaging system coupled with said storage device. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A medical diagnostic imaging network comprising:
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a first ultrasound imaging system; a storage device remotely located from and coupled with said first ultrasound imaging system; first means, coupled with said storage device, for archiving in said storage device an ultrasound parameter comprising at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a user-controlled B-mode field of view parameter, a user-controlled region displaying color-Doppler information parameter, and a user-controlled depth-dependent gain compensation parameter of said first ultrasound imaging system; second means, coupled with said storage device, for retrieving said ultrasound parameter from said storage device; and third means for automatically displaying said retrieved ultrasound parameter in an ultrasound imaging system coupled with said storage device. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification