Methods and apparatuses for modifying the location of an ultrasound imaging plane
Aspects of the technology described herein related to modifying the location of an ultrasound imaging plane. Some embodiments include modifying the location of the ultrasound imaging plane based on a user selection. For example, some embodiments include receiving the user selection through a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes an ultrasound imaging plane indicator, where the ultrasound imaging plane indicator indicates the location of the ultrasound imaging plane. As another example, some embodiments include receiving the user selection by detecting tilts, taps, or voice commands. Some embodiments include automatically modifying the location of the ultrasound imaging plane. Some embodiments include modifying the location of the ultrasound imaging plane during biplane imaging.
1 . An ultrasound system, comprising:
a smartphone or tablet in operative communication with an ultrasound device, wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured to:
receive, from the ultrasound device, a longitudinal ultrasound image collected with a longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane and a transverse ultrasound image collected with a transverse ultrasound imaging plane, wherein the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane is longitudinal to a vessel and the transverse ultrasound imaging plane is transverse to the vessel;
operate an ultrasound transducer array to alternatively have a first subset of ultrasound transducers form a first aperture to collect ultrasound images with the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane and have a second subset of ultrasound transducers form a second aperture to collect ultrasound images with the transverse ultrasound imaging plane,
simultaneously display, on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the smartphone or tablet:
the longitudinal ultrasound image;
the transverse ultrasound image, wherein the transverse ultrasound image comprises a first imaging plane identifier line; and
a transverse imaging plane visualization superimposed on the longitudinal ultrasound image and comprising a second imaging plane identifier line; wherein:
the second imaging plane identifier is sized as to reveal substantially the longitudinal ultrasound image, and wherein
the transverse imaging plane visualization illustrates a slice through the longitudinal ultrasound image representing a location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane; and
a location of the second imaging plane identifier line corresponds to a location of the first imaging plane identifier line, such that regions of the transverse ultrasound image depicted adjacent to the first imaging plane identifier line were collected from regions of the transverse imaging plane depicted adjacent to the second imaging plane identifier line of the transverse imaging plane visualization;
receive a user selection to modify a location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane; and
configure the ultrasound device with a configuration to modify the location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane based on the user selection; and the ultrasound device, wherein the ultrasound device is configured to:
receive the configuration from the smartphone or tablet and modify the location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane based on the configuration by changing between a plurality of apertures of the ultrasound device and/or by changing beamforming parameters of the ultrasound device,
wherein the ultrasound device is configured, when modifying the location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane based on the configuration by changing between the plurality of apertures of the ultrasound device and/or by changing the beamforming parameters of the ultrasound device, to translate the transverse ultrasound imaging plane when an imaging depth of detection is less than a first threshold depth value and tilt the transverse ultrasound imaging plane when the imaging depth of detection is greater than the first threshold depth value.
2 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured to receive the user selection to modify the location of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane without receiving a user selection to change an ultrasound imaging mode or an ultrasound imaging preset.
3 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured, when configuring the ultrasound device to alternate collection of the ultrasound images with the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane and the ultrasound images with the transverse ultrasound imaging plane, to:
configure the ultrasound device to collect ultrasound images such that a time period between collection of successive ultrasound images is in a range of approximately 1/30- 1/15 seconds.
4 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein:
the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane is along an elevational dimension of the ultrasound device;
the transverse ultrasound imaging plane is along an azimuthal dimension of the ultrasound device;
the first aperture has a long dimension along the elevational dimension of the ultrasound device; and
the second aperture has a long dimension along the azimuthal dimension of the ultrasound device.
5 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured, when configuring the ultrasound device to alternate collection of the ultrasound images with the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane and the ultrasound images with the transverse ultrasound imaging plane, to:
configure the ultrasound device to collect the ultrasound images with the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane using a first set of beamforming parameters and to collect the ultrasound images with the second ultrasound imaging plane using a second set of beamforming parameters.
6 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein a user does not rotate the ultrasound device when the ultrasound device is alternating collection of the ultrasound images with the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane and the ultrasound images with the second transverse ultrasound imaging plane.
7 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured, when receiving the user selection to modify the position of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane, to detect a user dragging movement on the GUI of the smartphone or tablet.
8 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured, when receiving the user selection to modify the position of the transverse ultrasound imaging plane, to receive a selection of a location on the longitudinal ultrasound image.
9 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is further configured to display a longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane indicator superimposed on the transverse ultrasound image or adjacent to the transverse ultrasound image.
10 . The ultrasound system of claim 9 , wherein the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane indicator indicates where the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane intersects the transverse ultrasound imaging plane.
11 . The ultrasound system of claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane intersects the transverse ultrasound imaging plane at a real-world location corresponding to a location of the longitudinal ultrasound imaging plane indicator in the transverse ultrasound image.
12 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is further configured to display a freedom-of-movement indicator depicting a range of possible positions for the transverse ultrasound imaging plane.
13 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the transverse imaging plane visualization comprises a three-dimensional visualization.
14 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is configured to display the transverse imaging plane visualization in response to a user interaction with the GUI of the smartphone or tablet.
15 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is further configured to cause the transverse imaging plane visualization to persist for a period of time and then disappear.
16 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the smartphone or tablet is further configured to switch an orientation of the transverse ultrasound image relative to the transverse ultrasound imaging plane in response to a user selection.
17 . The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the transverse imaging plane visualization comprises a square-like shape or a sector-like shape.