Generating ultrasound protocols
Methods and ultrasound systems for generating ultrasound protocols are disclosed. In some embodiments, the ultrasound system includes an ultrasound scanner configured to transmit ultrasound at a patient anatomy and receive reflections of the ultrasound from the patient anatomy as part of a current ultrasound examination that includes workflow steps; an ultrasound machine configured to generate image data based on the reflections and a configuration state of the ultrasound machine; and a processor system. In some embodiments, the ultrasound system is configured to record protocol data including the configuration state and the workflow steps, generate an ultrasound protocol based on the protocol data, and store the ultrasound protocol in a memory storage device for use in a subsequent ultrasound examination.
1 . An ultrasound machine comprising:
a display device configured to display a user interface that includes:
an ultrasound image generated as part of a current ultrasound examination performed using the ultrasound machine; and
an ultrasound protocol generated with the ultrasound machine based on workflow steps of the current ultrasound examination, the ultrasound image, and a configuration state of the ultrasound machine when the ultrasound image is generated;
the user interface configured to receive, during the current ultrasound examination, a user edit to the ultrasound protocol;
a pressure sensor to determine when a user grabs an ultrasound scanner for use in the current ultrasound examination to cause recording of protocol data including the configuration state and the workflow steps s-based on pressure data from the pressure sensor that is positioned on an enclosure extending between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion of the ultrasound scanner; and
a transceiver configured to transmit the ultrasound protocol with the protocol data to a protocol database for use in a subsequent ultrasound examination and receive from the protocol database an additional ultrasound protocol generated during a previous ultrasound examination, wherein the transceiver is implemented to transmit the ultrasound protocol to the protocol database for use in the subsequent ultrasound examination with an additional ultrasound machine.
2 . The ultrasound machine as described in claim 1 , wherein the configuration state of the ultrasound machine includes at least one of an imaging parameter, an imaging mode, a beamformer setting, and an examination preset.
3 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , wherein the workflow steps include one or more steps to generate a measurement of a patient anatomy based on image data, and the ultrasound protocol includes instructions to generate the measurement.
4 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , wherein the workflow steps include one or more steps to generate an annotation for a patient anatomy based on image data, and the ultrasound protocol includes instructions to generate the annotation.
5 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , further comprising the ultrasound scanner configured to transmit ultrasound at a patient anatomy and receive reflections of the ultrasound from the patient anatomy as part of the current ultrasound examination that includes the workflow steps, wherein the ultrasound scanner includes an inertial measurement unit, the protocol data includes positional data from the inertial measurement unit, and the ultrasound protocol includes instructions for placement of the ultrasound scanner based on the positional data.
6 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , wherein the protocol data includes image data, and the ultrasound protocol includes the ultrasound image generated based on the image data.
7 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , wherein the display device is implemented to:
receive a user instruction to stop editing the ultrasound protocol; and
return, responsive to the user instruction, the ultrasound system to a scanning state for scanning of a patient anatomy, the scanning state being disabled while the editing of the ultrasound protocol is enabled.
8 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 1 , wherein the display device is implemented to display an alert indicating the recording of the protocol data.
9 . An ultrasound machine comprising:
a display device configured to display a user interface that includes:
an ultrasound image generated as part of a current ultrasound examination performed using the ultrasound machine; and
an ultrasound protocol generated with the ultrasound machine based on workflow steps of the current ultrasound examination, the ultrasound image, and a configuration state of the ultrasound machine when the ultrasound image is generated;
the user interface configured to receive, during the current ultrasound examination, a user edit to the ultrasound protocol;
a pressure sensor to determine when a user grabs an ultrasound scanner for use in the current ultrasound examination to cause recording of protocol data including the configuration state and the workflow steps s-based on pressure data from the pressure sensor that is positioned on an enclosure extending between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion of the ultrasound scanner; and
a transceiver configured to transmit the ultrasound protocol with the protocol data to a protocol database for use in a subsequent ultrasound examination and receive from the protocol database an additional ultrasound protocol generated during a previous ultrasound examination,
wherein the transceiver is implemented to receive the additional ultrasound protocol generated during the previous ultrasound examination by an additional ultrasound machine.
10 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 9 , wherein the display device is implemented to:
receive a user instruction to stop editing the ultrasound protocol; and
return, responsive to the user instruction, the ultrasound system to a scanning state for scanning of a patient anatomy, the scanning state being disabled while the editing of the ultrasound protocol is enabled.
11 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 9 , further comprising a processor system configured to generate, based on image data, an image in a non-ultrasound style, and the ultrasound protocol includes display of the image in the non-ultrasound style.
12 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 11 , wherein the non- ultrasound style includes at least one of an illustration, a cartoon, and a painting.
13 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 11 , wherein the processor system is configured to implement a machine-learned model that transfers the image data from an ultrasound style to the non-ultrasound style to generate the image.
14 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 9 , further comprising a processor system configured to:
determine an occurrence of a delimiter event during the current ultrasound examination; and
stop the recording of the protocol data based on the occurrence of the delimiter event.
15 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 14 , wherein the delimiter event includes saving image data.
16 . The ultrasound system as described in claim 14 , wherein the processor system is configured to implement a machine-learned model to determine the occurrence of the delimiter event.
17 . A method implemented by a computing device, the method comprising:
displaying, in a user interface of a display, an ultrasound image generated as part of a current ultrasound examination performed using an ultrasound machine;
displaying an ultrasound protocol generated with the ultrasound machine based on workflow steps of the current ultrasound examination, the ultrasound image, and a configuration state of the ultrasound machine when the ultrasound image is generated;
receiving, via the user interface during the current ultrasound examination, a user edit to the ultrasound protocol;
determining when a user grabs an ultrasound scanner for use in the current ultrasound examination to cause recording of protocol data including the configuration state and the workflow steps based on pressure data from a pressure sensor that is positioned on an enclosure extending between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion of the ultrasound scanner;
transmitting, with a transceiver, the ultrasound protocol to a protocol database for use in a subsequent ultrasound examination; and
receiving, from the protocol database, an additional ultrasound protocol generated during a previous ultrasound examination by an additional ultrasound machine.
18 . The method as described in claim 17 , wherein the configuration state of the ultrasound machine includes at least one of an imaging parameter, an imaging mode, a beamformer setting, and an examination preset.
19 . The method as described in claim 17 , further comprising: receiving a user instruction to stop editing the ultrasound protocol; and returning, responsive to the user instruction, the ultrasound system to a scanning state for scanning of a patient anatomy, the scanning state being disabled while the editing of the ultrasound protocol is enabled.
20 . The method as described in claim 17 , wherein the workflow steps include one or more steps to generate a measurement of a patient anatomy based on image data, and the ultrasound protocol includes instructions to generate the measurement.