Ultrasound probe with target tracking capability
An ultrasound imaging system is disclosed that can include an ultrasound probe including a transducer array configured to acquire ultrasound images, and a console including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of logic modules that, when executed by the processor, are configured to perform operations including receiving an ultrasound image, detecting one or more targets within the ultrasound image, and generating a visualization from the ultrasound image to center the one or more detected targets within a displayed portion of the ultrasound image. Generating the visualization may include cropping the ultrasound image to center the one or more detected targets within a displayed portion of the ultrasound image. Generating the visualization may include increasing a magnification of a cropped portion of the ultrasound image to center the one or more detected targets within a displayed portion of the ultrasound image.
1. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
an ultrasound probe configured to acquire a series of ultrasound images during a needle insertion procedure; and
a console communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe and including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic that, when executed by the processor, is configured to perform operations including:
repeatedly receiving ultrasound images comprising the series of ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound probe during the needle insertion procedure,
repeatedly detecting a first target blood vessel within the ultrasound images by:
detecting pulses within the ultrasound images that indicate periodic changes in a dimension of the first target blood vessel,
detecting that the first target blood vessel of one or more targets detected is within a threshold distance of an edge of a first ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images, and
analyzing color saturation within the ultrasound images with respect to one or more thresholds indicative of a blood vessel, and
generating a visualization from the ultrasound images including (i) determining a bounding box surrounding the first target blood vessel, wherein the first target blood vessel is centered in the bounding box, (ii) cropping the ultrasound images at the bounding box, and (iii) displaying cropped ultrasound images on a display screen during the needle insertion procedure, wherein the display screen is integrated into or connected to the console, and wherein the visualization is repeatedly regenerated during the needle insertion procedure based on repeated receipt of the ultrasound images.
2. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein generating the visualization includes increasing a magnification of the cropped ultrasound images to center the one or more targets detected within the cropped ultrasound image.
3. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe is communicatively connected to the console via a wired or wireless connection.
4. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the console includes the display screen, and wherein the logic that, when executed by the processor, is configured to perform further operations including rendering the visualization of the cropped ultrasound images on the display screen.
5. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the one or more targets includes distinguishing a component within the ultrasound images according to varying color saturation within the ultrasound images.
6. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the one or more targets includes identifying each of the one or more targets as the blood vessel, a bone, an organ or a medical device.
7. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 6 , wherein identifying each of the one or more targets includes comparing characteristics of each of the one or more targets to thresholds set to define organs, blood vessels, bones or medical devices.
8. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the characteristics include one or more of a detected pulsatility upon analysis of the first ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images and a prior ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images, dimensions of each of the one or more targets or color saturation of each of the one or more targets.
9. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 8 , wherein a result of comparing the characteristics to the one or more thresholds is a confidence level for each of the one or more targets indicating a likelihood of an identification of a particular target.
10. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the logic that, when executed by the processor, is configured to perform further operations including: generating an alert indicating to a clinician that the first target blood vessel is within the threshold distance of the edge of the first ultrasound image.
11. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the alert includes a text notification or an arrow indicating a direction to move the ultrasound probe.
12. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets includes the blood vessel and a needle.
13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more targets includes a distal tip of the needle.
14. A method for obtaining ultrasound images by an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound probe configured to acquire a series of ultrasound images during a needle insertion procedure, and a console communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe and including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a logic that, when executed by the processor, is configured to perform operations, the method comprising:
repeatedly receiving ultrasound images comprising the series of ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound probe during the needle insertion procedure,
repeatedly detecting a first target blood vessel within ultrasound images by:
detecting pulses within the ultrasound images that indicate periodic changes in a dimension of the first target blood vessel,
detecting that the first target blood vessel of one or more targets detected is within a threshold distance of an edge of a first ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images, and
analyzing color saturation within the ultrasound images with respect to one or more thresholds indicative of a blood vessel, and
generating a visualization from the ultrasound images including (i) determining a bounding box surrounding the first target blood vessel, wherein the first target blood vessel is centered in the bounding box, (ii) cropping the ultrasound images at the bounding box, and (iii) displaying cropped ultrasound images on a display screen during the needle insertion procedure, wherein the display screen is integrated into or connected to the console, and wherein the visualization is repeatedly regenerated during the needle insertion procedure based on repeated receipt of the ultrasound images.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating the visualization includes increasing a magnification of the cropped ultrasound images to center the one or more targets detected within the cropped ultrasound images.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound probe is communicatively connected to the console via a wired or wireless connection.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the console includes the display screen, and wherein the logic that, when executed by the processor, is configured to perform further operations including rendering the visualization of the cropped ultrasound images on the display screen.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting the one or more targets includes distinguishing a component within the ultrasound images according to varying color saturation within the ultrasound images.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting the one or more targets includes identifying each of the one or more targets as the blood vessel, a bone, an organ or a medical device.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein identifying each of the one or more targets includes comparing characteristics of each of the one or more targets to thresholds set to define organs, blood vessels, bones or medical devices.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the characteristics include one or more of a detected pulsatility upon analysis of the first ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images and a prior ultrasound image of the series of ultrasound images, dimensions of each of the one or more targets or color saturation of each of the one or more targets.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein a result of comparing the characteristics to the one or more thresholds is a confidence level for each of the one or more targets indicating a likelihood of an identification of a particular target.
23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising: generating an alert indicating to a clinician that the first target blood vessel is within the threshold distance of the edge of the first ultrasound image.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the alert includes a text notification or an arrow indicating a direction to move the ultrasound probe.
25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more targets includes the blood vessel and a needle.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more targets includes a distal tip of the needle.