Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for identifying connected regions in ultrasound images. An exemplary method includes acquiring ultrasound video data of an anatomical region while a force is being applied to induce movement within the anatomical region, the ultrasound video data including a plurality of ultrasound images. The method includes identifying two or more connected regions in one of the plurality of ultrasound images, generating a modified ultrasound image by graphically distinguishing the first connected region from the second connected region, and causing a display device to display the modified image.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically setting an elevational tilt angle of a mechanically wobbling ultrasound probe is provided. The method includes acquiring, by a mechanically wobbling ultrasound probe of an ultrasound system, an ultrasound volume of a region of interest. The method includes analyzing, by at least one processor of the ultrasound system, the ultrasound volume to identify an ultrasound image slice depicting an anatomical object of interest. The ultrasound image slice corresponds with an elevational tilt angle. The method includes setting, by the at least one processor, the mechanically wobbling ultrasound probe to the elevational tilt angle corresponding with the ultrasound image slice depicting the anatomical object of interest. The method includes acquiring, by the mechanically wobbling ultrasound probe, a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image at the elevational tilt angle. The method includes causing, by the at least one processor, a display system to present the 2D ultrasound image.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically analyzing placenta insufficiency in a curved topographical ultrasound image slice is provided. The method includes acquiring, by an ultrasound system, an ultrasound volume of a placental anatomy section, the ultrasound volume comprising color Doppler information. The method includes extracting, by at least one processor of the ultrasound system, a topographical ultrasound image slice at a distance below an inner surface of the placental anatomy section. The topographical ultrasound image slice is curved in all three dimensions and includes the color Doppler information. The method includes analyzing, by the at least one processor, the color Doppler information of the topographical ultrasound image slice to generate perfusion data information. The method includes causing, by the at least one processor, a display system to present the topographical ultrasound image slice with the perfusion data information.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging probe includes a housing, a circuit board assembly disposed within the housing including a microcontroller, and a motion sensor operably connected to the microcontroller and capable of sensing motion of the housing based on at least one operator interaction with the housing to generate sensor data, a memory chip disposed within the housing and storing information regarding particular operational configurations for the ultrasound imaging probe associated with stored sensor data representing types of stored operator interactions, and a power source disposed at least partially within the housing and operably connected to the assembly. The microcontroller is configured to receive sensor data from the motion sensor in response to the operator interaction with the housing, to compare the received sensor data with the stored sensor data, and to change an operational configuration of the ultrasound probe in response to matching the received sensor data with stored sensor data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting changes to ultrasound scanning settings during an ultrasound examination and generating a record of the settings changes are provided. The method includes acquiring, by an ultrasound system, ultrasound image data according to ultrasound scanning settings during an ultrasound examination. The method includes monitoring, by at least one processor, the ultrasound scanning settings during the ultrasound examination and detecting a changed ultrasound scanning setting from the ultrasound scanning setting during the ultrasound examination. The method includes recording, by the at least one processor, the changed ultrasound scanning setting in a log file associated with the ultrasound examination. The method includes recording, by the at least one processor, a video clip of the ultrasound image data a predetermined period of time before and after the changed ultrasound scanning setting is detected. The video clip is associated with the ultrasound examination.

Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating a cine including a plurality of cardiac views based on the cardiac ultrasound data, segmenting a plurality of cardiac chambers from each of the plurality of cardiac images, and automatically determining a cardiac chamber area for each of the plurality of cardiac chambers. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes displaying the cine on a display device and displaying a plurality of single trace curves on the display device at the same time as the cine to provide feedback regarding an acquisition quality of the cine, wherein each of the single trace curves represents the cardiac chamber area for a different one of the plurality of cardiac chambers over the plurality of cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically recommending ultrasound examination workflow modifications based on detected activity patterns is provided. The method includes analyzing system activity detected during performance of one or more workflows of an ultrasound examination. The method includes detecting a recurring system activity pattern over a plurality of ultrasound examinations. The method includes presenting, at a display system and based on the detecting the recurring system activity pattern, a prompt providing a recommendation to apply a macro to automate a series of system activities in response to detecting a triggering system activity. The method includes receiving a user input accepting the recommendation to apply the macro. The method includes applying the macro to automate the series of system activities in response to the detecting the triggering system activity.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for identifying connected regions in ultrasound images. An exemplary method includes acquiring ultrasound video data of an anatomical region while a force is being applied to induce movement within the anatomical region, the ultrasound video data including a plurality of ultrasound images. The method includes identifying two or more connected regions in one of the plurality of ultrasound images, generating a modified ultrasound image by graphically distinguishing the first connected region from the second connected region, and causing a display device to display the modified image.

Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system includes generating a cine including a plurality of cardiac views based on the cardiac ultrasound data, segmenting a plurality of cardiac chambers from each of the plurality of cardiac images, and automatically determining a cardiac chamber area for each of the plurality of cardiac chambers. The method and ultrasound imaging system includes displaying the cine on a display device and displaying a plurality of single trace curves on the display device at the same time as the cine to provide feedback regarding an acquisition quality of the cine, wherein each of the single trace curves represents the cardiac chamber area for a different one of the plurality of cardiac chambers over the plurality of cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting function data associated with a user input device at a main display in response to a presence signal provided via the user input device is provided. The method includes receiving, at a processor of an ultrasound system, a presence signal from a presence sensor of a user input device of the ultrasound system. The presence signal is provided by the presence sensor in response to a detection of a user at a proximity to the user input device. The presence signal is independent from an actuation signal provided by the user input device in response to user actuation of the user input device. The method includes processing, by the processor, the presence signal to present function data identifying a functionality of the user input device at a main display of the ultrasound system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method includes accessing a graphical model of a representative patient, accessing a medical image of an anatomical structure, and registering the medical image with the graphical model to generate a composite image. The imaging system and method includes displaying the composite image and simultaneously displaying an unregistered medical image of the anatomical structure with the composite image. The unregistered medical image has at least one of a higher resolution and a larger form factor than the registered medical image.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe acquires ultrasound images at different directions, such as by performing beam steering. A processor analyzes the ultrasound images to detect acoustic shadow artifacts. The processor marks the acoustic shadow artifacts detected in one or more regions of one or more of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor constructs a compound image based on unmarked regions of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor presents the constructed compound image at a display system. The processor applies an image recognition technique to identify whether a region of an ultrasound image includes a dark area. The processor compares image data of the region corresponding with a same location in each of the ultrasound images and detects the acoustic shadow artifacts in the region having the identified dark area if at least one of the analyzed ultrasound images does not include the dark area at the region corresponding with the same location.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to providing spatial color flow imaging for diagnostic medical imaging. The systems and methods acquire ultrasound data along a first two-dimensional (2D) plane and at least a second 2D plane from a matrix array probe for a region of interest (ROI), calculate a first flow velocity based on the ultrasound data along the first 2D plane, calculate a second flow velocity based on the ultrasound data along the second 2D plane, and generate a first color flow image based on the first flow velocity. The systems and methods further generate a second color flow image based on the second flow velocity, generate an anatomical image based on the ultrasound data on a display, and overlay the first and second color flow images to the anatomical image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method for obtaining head progression measurements includes accessing a reference image frame acquired along a first scan plane and obtaining a first head progression measurement from the reference image frame. The system and method includes acquiring, with an ultrasound probe, a live image along a second scan plane and displaying the reference image frame superimposed over the live image. The system and method includes selecting an image frame from the live image and obtaining a second head progression measurement from the image frame.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe acquires ultrasound images at different directions, such as by performing beam steering. A processor analyzes the ultrasound images to detect acoustic shadow artifacts. The processor marks the acoustic shadow artifacts detected in one or more regions of one or more of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor constructs a compound image based on unmarked regions of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor presents the constructed compound image at a display system. The processor applies an image recognition technique to identify whether a region of an ultrasound image includes a dark area. The processor compares image data of the region corresponding with a same location in each of the ultrasound images and detects the acoustic shadow artifacts in the region having the identified dark area if at least one of the analyzed ultrasound images does not include the dark area at the region corresponding with the same location.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to providing spatial color flow imaging for diagnostic medical imaging. The systems and methods acquire ultrasound data along a first two-dimensional (2D) plane and at least a second 2D plane from a matrix array probe for a region of interest ROI), calculate a first flow velocity based on the ultrasound data along the first 2D plane, calculate a second flow velocity based on the ultrasound data along the second 2D plane, and generate a first color flow image based on the first flow velocity. The systems and methods further generate a second color flow image based on the second flow velocity, generate an anatomical image based on the ultrasound data on a display, and overlay the first and second color flow images to the anatomical image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for variable speed of sound beamforming based on automatic detection of tissue type in ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring plural groups of ultrasound data sets in an imaged volume that at least partially encompasses an object. The groups of ultrasound data sets include ultrasound image data obtained by transmitting one or more ultrasound pulses from one or more transducer elements into different zones of the imaged volume. The method also includes arranging the ultrasound data sets into one or more temporal groups based on when the ultrasound data sets are acquired. The ultrasound data sets in each temporal group are acquired during a common time period. The method further includes constructing a three-dimensional image of the object based on the ultrasound data sets in at least one of the temporal groups.

Abstract: An medical imaging system and method for generating and displaying a blended cine loop. The system and method include acquiring image data and identifying a base image sequence in the image data. The system and method include identifying at least one non-base image in the image data acquired from outside of the base image sequence and generating a blended image sequence from the base image sequence and the at least one non-base image. The system and method include displaying the blended image sequence as a blended cine loop on a display device.

Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system for selecting an examination workflow for ultrasound imaging. The method and system include displaying a graphical model on a display device, selecting a modeled anatomical region in the graphical model that corresponds to an anatomical region in a patient. The method and system include automatically loading an examination workflow for the anatomical region, executing the examination workflow to acquire ultrasound data of the anatomical region, and generating and displaying a graphical output based on the ultrasound data on the display device.