Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with digital video image marking

• US 6,231,508 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: ATL Ultrasound Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Miller, Edward A., Jones, Philip V., Burton, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/345,241
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 600/443, 600/447, 600/440, 600/441, 600/450, 600/449, 600/437, 382/305, 364/413.25
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52073 Production of cursor lines, markers or indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52087 using synchronization techniques control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal A61B8/543
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8216 using time division multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8715 involving the mixing of the reproduced video signal with a non-recorded signal, e.g. a text signal

Abstract

A digital video recorder is provided which provides digital storage of realtime ultrasonic image sequences, replacing the conventional VCR with a recorder which does not degrade digital ultrasound images by analog conversion and recording. The digital video recorder includes a user control which enables a user to mark real time images as they are acquired or as they are being reviewed from storage. The user can skip directly from one marked image to another, or from one marked cardiac cycle to another.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system including a scanhead which is used to acquire ultrasonic image signals;

a user interface which is used to operate the ultrasound system; and

a digital ultrasound video storage system, responsive to the ultrasound system user interface, for storing and replaying realtime ultrasonic image sequences comprising;

a high capacity digital ultrasound image storage medium;

a digital image processor for processing ultrasound images produced by the ultrasound system for storage on said image storage medium;

an image display which displays stored images; and

wherein the user interface includes an electronic image marker, coupled to said digital ultrasound video storage system, for electronically designating a selected image,

wherein said image storage medium stores a marked image designation in association with a selected image.

2. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 1, wherein said image display displays real time ultrasound images as they are acquired;

and

wherein said electronic image marker comprises means for electronically designating a displayed real time ultrasound image.

3. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 2, wherein said electronic image marker comprises a user control which is actuated by a user when the user desires to mark a displayed ultrasound image.

4. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound system produces a sequence of images of different cardiac cycles of the heart;

and

wherein said electronic image marker comprises a user control which is actuated by a user when the user desires to mark the cardiac cycle of a displayed ultrasound image.

5. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 4, wherein said user control comprises a pushbutton.

6. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 1, wherein said electronic image marker comprises a footswitch.

7. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 1, further comprising a user review control for skipping to an image designated by an associated image designation.

8. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 7, wherein said user review control comprises means for skipping to a previous or subsequent designated image.

9. An ultrasound system including a scanhead which is used to acquire ultrasonic image signals;

a user interface which is used to operate the ultrasound system; and

a digital ultrasound video storage system, responsive to the ultrasound system user interface, for storing and replaying realtime ultrasonic image sequences comprising;

a high capacity digital ultrasound image storage medium;

a digital image processor for processing ultrasound images for storage on said image storage medium;

an image display which displays stored images; and

wherein the user interface includes an electronic image marker, coupled to said digital ultrasound video storage system, for electronically designating images of a selected cardiac cycle,

wherein said image storage medium stores a marked cardiac cycle designation in association with the images of said selected cardiac cycle.

10. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 9, further comprising a user review control for skipping to a designated image for review of a cardiac cycle containing said designated image.

11. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 9, wherein said electronic image marker comprises a pushbutton.

12. The digital ultrasound video storage system of claim 9, wherein said electronic image marker comprises a footswitch.

13. A method for designating an image of a real time ultrasonic image sequence for review during acquisition of ultrasonic images by an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:

acquiring a real time digital ultrasonic image sequence;

displaying said real time ultrasonic image sequence;

actuating a user control of the ultrasound system to designate a displayed ultrasonic image as an image of interest; and

digitally storing said designated ultrasonic image and an image marker in association with said designated ultrasonic image.

14. A method for designating ultrasonic images of a cardiac cycle for review during acquisition of cardiac ultrasonic images by an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:

acquiring a real time digital ultrasonic image sequence of the heart of a patient;

displaying said real time ultrasonic image sequence;

actuating a user control of the ultrasound system to designate a cardiac cycle including a displayed ultrasonic image as a cardiac cycle of interest; and

digitally storing the ultrasonic images of said designated cardiac cycle and an image marker in association with said designated cardiac cycle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of concurrently acquiring a cardiac cycle waveform,

wherein said cardiac cycle waveform is used to delineate the ultrasonic images of a cardiac cycle.