Systems and methods for quantification and classification of fluids in human cavities in ultrasound images

• US 8,221,321 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verathon Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verathon Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: McMorrow, Gerald, Chalana, Vikram, Yuk, Jongtae, Baartmans, Henri, Bom, Nicolaas, Lancee, Charles Theodoor, Merks, Egon J. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/213,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 600437-472, 382/128, 382/168, 382181-231
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/204 Determining bladder volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonography method includes creating a database that is representative of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity of a body, and transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient. Echoes are received from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes, compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest is compiled. The pattern is processed by comparing the region-of-interest patterns to the pattern information stored in the database. A composition within the region-of-interest of the patient is then determined.

Claims

1. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering ultrasonic information pertaining to the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity in a biological body;

storing the information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes;

compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest;

automatically comparing, with a processing device, the pattern of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

based on the automatic comparison between the pattern and the characteristics of the stored information, automatically detecting, with a processing device, a boundary between a first organ of the patient and a second organ of the patient within the region-of-interest of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting ultrasound pulses into the region of interest includes transmitting the pulses to at least one of a tissue, a fluid, and a cavity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the pulse further comprises transmitting the pulses to at least one of urine, blood, amniotic fluid, lung fluids, liver bile, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the pattern includes calculating at least one of a Goldberg number, a harmonic ratio, and an attenuation factor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein processing the pattern further includes applying a window algorithm to a section of an echo pulse near a cavity-boundary interface within the region-of-interest.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein applying a window algorithm further comprises determining the harmonic frequencies associated with the section of the echo pulse near the cavity-boundary interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving echoes further comprises receiving at least one of a single dimensional line, a two-dimensional plane, and a three-dimensional array of single dimensional lines.

8. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering ultrasonic information pertaining to the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity in a biological body;

storing the information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based on the echoes;

compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest;

comparing the pattern of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

based on a comparison between the pattern and the characteristics of the stored information, determining at least one of a volume, an area, and a thickness within the region-of-interest of the patient.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting ultrasound pulses to the region of interest includes transmitting the pulses into at least one of a tissue, a fluid, and a cavity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the pulse further comprises transmitting the pulses into at least one of urine, blood, amniotic fluid, lung fluids, liver bile, and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein processing the pattern includes calculating at least one of a Goldberg number, a harmonic ratio, and an attenuation factor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein processing the pattern further includes applying a window algorithm to a section of an echo pulse near a cavity-boundary interface within the region-of-interest.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying a window algorithm further comprises determining one or more harmonic frequencies associated with the section of the echo pulse near the cavity-boundary interface.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving echoes further comprises receiving at least one of a single dimensional line, a two-dimensional plane, and a three-dimensional array of single dimensional lines.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the volume within the region of interest includes determining a volume of at least one cavity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining a volume of at least one cavity further comprises determining a volume of at least one of a bladder and a uterus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining a volume of at least one of a bladder and a uterus further comprises determining a volume of the bladder after fluid has been voided from the bladder.

18. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering information representing the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or cavity in a body;

storing the gathered information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes;

compiling an ultrasound harmonic of the region-of-interest;

automatically comparing, with a processing device, the harmonic of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

automatically detecting, with a processing device, a boundary between a first organ of the patient and a second organ of the patient within the region-of-interest of the patient based upon the automatic comparison of the harmonic with the stored information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the harmonic comprises a second harmonic.

20. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering information representing the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or cavity in a body;

storing the gathered information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes;

compiling an ultrasound harmonic of the region-of-interest;

comparing the harmonic of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

determining a volume within the region-of-interest of the patient based upon the comparison of the harmonic with the stored information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the harmonic further includes a second harmonic.

22. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering ultrasonic information pertaining to the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity in a biological body;

storing the information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes;

compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest;

automatically comparing, with a processing device, the pattern of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

based on a comparison between the pattern and the characteristics of the stored information, automatically distinguishing, with a processing device, a first fluid composition of the patient from a second fluid composition of the patient within the region-of-interest of the patient.

23. An ultrasonography method, comprising:

gathering ultrasonic information pertaining to the characteristics of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity in a biological body;

storing the information;

transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient;

receiving echoes from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes;

compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest;

automatically comparing, with a processing device, the pattern of the region-of-interest to the characteristics of the stored information; and

based on a comparison between the pattern and the characteristics of the stored information, automatically distinguishing, with a processing device, a first fluid composition of the patient from a first organ of the patient within the region-of-interest of the patient.