Autonomous image acquisition start-stop managing system

1 . A system comprising:

an input unit;

a master rule engine unit;

a plurality of workflow step rule engine units, each workflow step rule engine unit being associated with a respective set of rules; and

an output unit;

wherein the input unit is configured to receive a data input indicative of an event in an autonomous image acquisition workflow and a plurality of sets of workflow steps, each having a plurality of segments, that define phases within the autonomous image acquisition workflow for the event, wherein the data input indicative of an event is received from a pre-trained machine learning algorithm that outputs the event based on a determined probability indicating whether the event is likely to happen;

wherein the master rule engine unit is configured to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engine units from the plurality of workflow step rule engine units to determine a set of readiness indices of an autonomous imaging apparatus, each of the one or more workflow step rule engine units defining rules for a specific segment of the autonomous image acquisition workflow,

wherein each of the one or more selected workflow step rule engine units is configured to execute, in response to the data input, one or more rules of the respective rule set to generate a respective readiness index indicative of a state of being prepared for a particular workflow step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow;

wherein each rule corresponds to a specific workflow step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow, and workflow steps between different rules are different;

wherein the master rule engine unit is further configured to determine an action of the autonomous imaging apparatus based on the set of readiness indices; and

wherein the master rule engine unit is further configured to control, via the output unit, the autonomous imaging apparatus to perform the determined action in acquiring an image of a patient.

2 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the master rule engine unit is configured to associate the data input to at least one of the one or more selected workflow step rule engine units with a sub-step of the specific workflow step.

3 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of workflow step rule engine units are configured to use an active learning mechanism to update respective rule sets.

4 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the data input comprises at least one:

data collected from the patient;

data collected from a device used in the autonomous scan procedure;

data collected from the autonomous imaging apparatus;

data collected from an imaging room; or

data collected from a user input.

5 . The system of claim 4 ,

wherein the data collected from the patient comprises at least one of:

sensor data collected from sensors for monitoring the patient;

clinical data of the patient; or

patient profile data.

6 . The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the determined action comprises at least one of:

starting image acquisition;

aborting image acquisition; or

stopping image acquisition as planned.

7 . The system of claim 6 ,

wherein for determining the action of starting image acquisition, the master rule engine unit is configured to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engine units from the plurality of workflow step rule engine units to determine a set of readiness indices about a device indicative a state of the autonomous imaging apparatus being prepared for starting image acquisition and a set of readiness indices about the patient indicative a state of the patient being prepared for starting image acquisition.

8 . The system of claim 6 ,

wherein for determining the action of aborting image acquisition, the master rule engine unit is configured to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engine units from the plurality of workflow step rule engine units to determine a set of readiness indices about a device indicative a state of the autonomous imaging apparatus not being suitable for continuing image acquisition and/or a set of readiness indices about the patient indicative a state of the patient not being suitable for continuing image acquisition.

9 . The system of claim 6 ,

wherein for determining the action of stopping image acquisition, the master rule engine unit is configured to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engine units from the plurality of workflow step rule engine units to determine a set of readiness indices indicative of at least one or more of the following:

planned end;

scan protocol completed;

image quality assessment;

coverage of organ of interest; or

stable internet access by remote operator.

10 . A method, where each of the steps of the method are implemented by one or more processors for evaluating an autonomous scan procedure for controlling an autonomous imaging apparatus to acquire an image of a patient, the method comprising:

a) receiving a data input indicative of an event in an autonomous image acquisition workflow and a plurality of sets of workflow steps, each having a plurality of segments, that define phases within the autonomous image acquisition workflow for the event,

wherein the data input indicative of an event is received from a pre-trained machine learning algorithm that outputs the event based on a determined probability indicating whether the event is likely to happen;

b) selecting for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engine units from a plurality of workflow step rule engine units to determine a set of readiness indices of the autonomous imaging apparatus, each of the one or more workflow step rule engine units defining rules for a specific segment of the autonomous image acquisition workflow,

wherein each workflow step rule engine unit is associated with a respective set of rules;

wherein each rule corresponds to a specific workflow step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow, and workflow steps between different rules are different; and

wherein each of the one or more selected workflow step rule engine units is configured to execute, in response to the data input, one or more rules of the respective rule set to generate a respective readiness index indicative of a state of being prepared for a particular step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow;

c) determining an action of the autonomous imaging apparatus based on the set of readiness indices; and

d) controlling, by the one or more processors, the autonomous imaging apparatus to perform the determined action when acquiring the image of the patient.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method according to claim 10 .

12 . A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

receive a data input indicative of an event in an autonomous image acquisition workflow and a plurality of sets of workflow steps, each having a plurality of segments, that define phases within the autonomous image acquisition workflow for the event,

wherein the data input indicative of an event is received from a pre-trained machine learning algorithm that outputs the event based on a determined probability indicating whether the event is likely to happen;

select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engines from a plurality of workflow step rule engines to determine a set of readiness indices of the autonomous imaging apparatus, each of the one or more workflow step rule engine units defining rules for a specific segment of the autonomous image acquisition workflow,

wherein each workflow step rule engine is associated with a respective set of rules,

wherein each of the one or more selected workflow step rule engines is configured to execute, in response to the data input, one or more rules of the respective set of rules to generate a respective readiness index indicative of a state of being prepared for a particular step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow, and

wherein each rule corresponds to a specific workflow step in the autonomous image acquisition workflow, and workflow steps between different rules are different;

determine an action of the autonomous imaging apparatus based on the set of readiness indices; and

output the determined action to the autonomous imaging apparatus and control the autonomous imaging apparatus to perform the determined action in acquiring an image of a patient.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to associate the data input to at least one of the one or more selected workflow step rule engines with a sub-step of the specific workflow step.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the determined action comprises at least one of:

starting image acquisition;

aborting image acquisition; or

stopping image acquisition as planned.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein for determining the action of starting image acquisition, the instructions further cause the at least one processor to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engines from the plurality of workflow step rule engines to determine a set of readiness indices about a device indicative a state of the autonomous imaging apparatus being prepared for starting image acquisition and a set of readiness indices about the patient indicative a state of the patient being prepared for starting image acquisition.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein for determining the action of aborting image acquisition, the instructions further cause the at least one processor to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engines from the plurality of workflow step rule engines to determine a set of readiness indices about a device indicative a state of the autonomous imaging apparatus not being suitable for continuing image acquisition and/or a set of readiness indices about the patient indicative a state of the patient not being suitable for continuing image acquisition.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein for determining the action of stopping image acquisition, the instructions further cause the at least one processor to select, for the data input, one or more workflow step rule engines from the plurality of workflow step rule engines to determine a set of readiness indices indicative of at least one or more of:

planned end;

scan protocol completed;

image quality assessment;

coverage of organ of interest; or

stable internet access by remote operator.