Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for determining whether or not an imaging probe, such as an ultrasound imaging probe, is at a desired orientation and/or position with respect to an anatomical structure. Image data of the imaging probe is processed to generate a 3D landmark model that contains anatomical landmarks of the anatomical structure. The 3D landmark model is then processed to determine whether or not the imaging probe is at the desired orientation and/or position.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for generating and displaying a 3D representation of an anatomical structure of an individual. Image data of the anatomical structure is obtained and processed to obtain 2D images or image sequences corresponding to predetermined views of the anatomical structure. Anatomical landmarks are identified in the 2D images or image sequences and used to determine a 3D landmark model of the anatomical 5structure. The 3D landmark model is used to render and display a 3D representation of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to identify ovarian follicles by applying a neural network to pre-processed ultrasound image frames. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate at least one image from the ultrasound echoes. A threshold may be applied to the image frame that differentiates pixels representative of an ovarian follicle present in the target region from other subject matter. The processors may apply a neural network to the thresholded image frame, in which the neural network determines the presence of the ovarian follicle in the thresholded image frame. The processors also may generate an indicator based on the presence of the ovarian follicle and display the indicator on a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for detecting a misuse of a medical imaging system (20), comprising a data interface (12) for acquiring medical image data (24) and audit log data (26) from the medical imaging system (20); a processing unit (14) which is configured to configured to analyse the medical image data (24) to determine whether or not a part of a fetus is imaged in the medical image data (24), to compare the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26) with each other, and to determine based on said comparison whether there is a mismatch between the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26); and a feedback unit (16) which is configured to generate a misuse alert signal if a mismatch is detected by the processing unit (14).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for visualization of an elongated anatomical structure (20), for example of a fetal spine using ultrasound is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for deriving a biometric parameter of a fetal heart. The method includes acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images of a region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises a fetal heart and comparing the plurality of ultrasound images to a predefined clinical view. A group of ultrasound images related to the predefined clinical view are selected based on the comparison, wherein the group of ultrasound images represents at least one cardiac cycle. An anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected within an ultrasound image of the group of ultrasound images and the anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected or tracked across the group of ultrasound images. A biometric parameter of the fetal heart is then determined based on the detected or tracked anatomical landmark from one or more ultrasound images of the group of ultrasound images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for automatically detecting anatomical structures (3) in a medical image (1) of a subject, the method comprising applying an object detector function (4) to the medical image, wherein the object detector function performs the steps of: (A) applying a first neural network (40) to the medical image, wherein the first neural network is trained to detect a first plurality of classes of larger-sized anatomical structures (3a), thereby generating as output the coordinates of at least one first bounding box (51) and the confidence score of it containing a larger-sized anatomical structure; (B) cropping (42) the medical image to the first bounding box, thereby generating a cropped image (11) containing the image content within the first bounding box (51); and (C) applying a second neural network (44) to the cropped medical image, wherein the second neural network is trained to detect at least one second class of smaller-sized anatomical structures (3b), thereby g

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of obtaining a composite 3D ultrasound image of a region of interest. The method includes obtaining preliminary ultrasound data from a region of interest of a subject and identifying an anatomical feature within the region of interest based on the preliminary ultrasound data. A first imaging position and one or more additional imaging positions are then determined based on the anatomical feature. A first 3D ultrasound image is obtained from the first imaging position and one or more additional 3D ultrasound images are obtained from the one or more additional imaging positions, wherein a portion of the first 3D ultrasound image overlaps a portion of the one or more additional 3D ultrasound images, thereby forming an overlapping portion comprising the anatomical feature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for determining an ovarian follicle count and size (diameter) from a pair of 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scans.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound device for measuring blood flow velocity in a blood vessel of a subject without imaging functionality in the device. The measurement depends upon reflections of a collimated beam of ultrasound from a subject's body part. Received electrical signals representative of the reflected ultrasound energy is used for generating a representation of blood flow at a plurality of predetermined locations in the volume and calculating a first blood flow velocity at each of the locations. The representation of flow is used for delineating the blood flow in the blood vessel in the volume. An angle calculating unit calculates the Doppler angle between the direction of the radiated collimated beam in the delineated blood flow at each point. A velocity calculator calculates a second blood flow velocity at the plurality of points based on the calculated first velocities and the calculated angle at the point.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to identify ovarian follicles by applying a neural network to pre-processed ultrasound image frames. Systems may include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echo signals responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward a target region. One or more processors communicatively coupled with the ultrasound transducer may be configured to generate at least one image from the ultrasound echoes. A threshold may be applied to the image frame that differentiates pixels representative of an ovarian follicle present in the target region from other subject matter. The processors may apply a neural network to the thresholded image frame, in which the neural network determines the presence of the ovarian follicle in the thresholded image frame. The processors also may generate an indicator based on the presence of the ovarian follicle and display the indicator on a user interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photonic probe apparatus and a method for probing tissue to detect and mark biological tissue with cancerous or precancerous states. The apparatus involves a probe for illuminating tissue and collecting light from an illuminated tissue region through the probe, a unit for analyzing collected light to determine whether a threshold measure of probability of a cancerous or precancerous lesion in the probed tissue region in contact with the probe is exceeded, and an integrated tissue marking facility which can be activated to mark the probed tissue region through the probe when the threshold measure is exceeded. The photonic probe apparatus and the method are especially suitable for probing regions in squamous and columnar epithelia to detect and mark regions with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (10) for detecting a misuse of a medical imaging system (20), comprising a data interface (12) for acquiring medical image data (24) and audit log data (26) from the medical imaging system (20); a processing unit (14) which is configured to configured to analyse the medical image data (24) to determine whether or not a part of a fetus is imaged in the medical image data (24), to compare the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26) with each other, and to determine based on said comparison whether there is a mismatch between the medical image data (24) and the audit log data (26); and a feedback unit (16) which is configured to generate a misuse alert signal if a mismatch is detected by the processing unit (14).

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method (200) for determining an ovarian follicle count and size (diameter) from a pair of 2-D transvaginal ultrasound scans.

Abstract: A device is configured for interrogating a blood vessel to derive flow characteristics (S628) and for, responsive to the deriving and based on the derived characteristics, anatomically identifying the vessel. A spatial map of the vessels may be generated based on the interrogating, and specifically the Doppler power computed from data acquired in the interrogating. Subsequent interrogating (S668) may occur, based on the map and on a user-selected set of vessels and/or vessel categories, to derive clinical Doppler indices. The device can be designed to automatically set a sample volume (509) for the subsequent interrogating, and to operate automatically from the user selection to display of the indices. The display may further include an image (524) of the vessels summoned by the set, annotated by their individual anatomical names, and optionally a diagnosis relating to blood flow. The displayed image may be enlarged to zoom in on the user's onscreen selection.

Abstract: A device images time-wise in parallel using transducer elements of a group. The elements are of a current group and imaging is time-wise sequential by group. The groups may be spatially disposed with respect to each other so as to mutually intermesh element-wise. The imaging may include volumetric imaging. The device may be configured for not collectively using any of the elements to focus, nor to steer, a beam used in the imaging. The device may further be operable to transition between spacing states at least one of which is characterized by a respective minimum, nonzero, degree of intra-group, element-to-element non-adjacency, or may be fixed at a selected spacing state. The transitioning may be automatic, in response to input indicative of blood vessel size and/or depth.

Abstract: An automatic, stand-alone, hand-held ultrasound blood-vessel examination device includes a reduced number of transducer elements and presents a simplified user interface, without the need for displaying an image of any of the vessels. The probe, in one embodiment, acquires and examines a volume of interest, searches for a target vessel, tests the vessel for normality of blood flow, and reports the diagnosis, all automatically and without need for user intervention. In another embodiment, the probe finds a body vessel in a volume, and extracts a clinical Doppler parameter, all automatically and without need for user intervention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photonic probe apparatus and a method for probing tissue to detect and mark biological tissue with cancerous or precancerous states. The apparatus involves a probe for illuminating tissue and collecting light from an illuminated tissue region through the probe, a unit for analyzing collected light to determine whether a threshold measure of probability of a cancerous or precancerous lesion in the probed tissue region in contact with the probe is exceeded, and an integrated tissue marking facility which can be activated to mark the probed tissue region through the probe when the threshold measure is exceeded. The photonic probe apparatus and the method are especially suitable for probing regions in squamous and columnar epithelia to detect and mark regions with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument for examining the cervix comprising an optical examination system, a processor for controlling the medical instrument, and a memory containing machine executable instructions. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to: acquire a cervical image using the optical examination system; calculate a set of interest point locations using a digital filter; calculate a filtered set of interest point locations using the set of interest point locations and a morphological filter; calculate a reduced set of interest points locations using the filtered set of interest point locations and a neighborhood based filter; calculate a classified set of interest point locations reduced set of interest points and a trained classification module; calculate a set of punctation locations using the classified set of interest point locations and a second neighborhood based filter; and calculate punctation mark regions using the punctation point locations.

Abstract: A device (308) is configured for examining pulsatile flow, for deriving, based on the examined flow, spectral characteristics and for, based on the derived characteristics, determining which one or more pulse cycles are to be selected as representative of the flow. The cycles selected can be consecutive and amount to a predetermined number of cycles, such as five. The cycles (200) subject to selection may initially be filtered out based on waveform anomalies, with the surviving cycles in a consecutive group of sufficient number being judged based on parameters such as waveform caliper measurements and other types of the characteristics. Good cycles are detected (202) by their lack of variation, with respect to the measured parameters, from each respective, parameter median over the spectrogram cycles not initially filtered. The technique may, according to user selection, take into account additional parameters suited to particular medical application. Uses include correctly identifying an artery by name.