System for acquiring ultrasound images of internal body organs

Abstract

A system for acquiring ultrasound images of internal body organs comprises a scanner and at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated therewith, wherein the system is configured to issue instructions to the operator of the system that allow scans to be performed also by persons not trained for ultrasound scanning including the patient themselves, and wherein when the scans are performed by untrained operators, the scans are transmitted to a remote location for analysis by a healthcare professional.

1 . A system for acquiring ultrasound images of internal body organs, comprising a scanner and at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated therewith, wherein the system is configured to issue instructions to the operator of the system that allow scans to be performed also by persons not trained for ultrasound scanning including the patient themselves, and wherein when the scans are performed by untrained operators, the scans are transmitted to a remote location for analysis by a healthcare professional. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , which is configured to allow two-way communication between the operator and a remote individual or non-monitored system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-monitored system comprises automated, image analysis circuitry. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the two-way communication is selected from audio, visual, and video communication, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein when the scans are performed by untrained operators, two way video communication is enabled between the operator and the health care professional, enabling them to see each other while the operator is carrying out the scanning procedure to aid the health care professional in interpreting the images and to provide guidance if necessary. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is configured such that the output of the system is sent directly to a remote healthcare professional and/or to a non-monitored system in real time, or shortly after images are acquired. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , which is configured to overlay an image of the scanner on top of the ultrasound scans to aid a healthcare professional in interpreting the images. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising components in, or associated with the housing, including: i) an ultrasound probe head; ii) the at least one IMU, which comprises a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope; iii) electronic components for wired or wireless communication with remote terminals, and iv) an internal or external power source. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising as additional components of the system: v) an Analog Front End (AFE) that transmits and receives ultrasound signals by means of electronic components; vi) a processor containing software; vii) a user interface comprising a display screen and means to accept user's instructions; and viii) at least one memory device to store data and images processed by the software in the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of: ix) a remote terminal; x) at least one additional IMU; xi) at least one magnetometer; xii) at least one pressure sensor; and xiii) a speaker and a microphone for communicating with a remote health care provider. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein all of the other components v)—viii) are contained within a remote terminal, which is connected to the scanner via a wired or wireless communication link. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein some of the other components v)—viii) are contained within the scanner and the remainder are located at a remote terminal, which is connected to the scanner via a wired or wireless communication link. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote terminal comprises the display, the IMU, and the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the software is configured to execute at least one of the following: to produce ultrasound images; to analyze the data; to decide which images are of sufficient quality to be displayed on the display screen; to discard low quality images; to instruct the operator to hold the housing of the scanner in a predetermined manner; to compute the location and attitude of the scanner; to determine if the scanner is being held such that enough pressure is being exerted on the skin to produce an image of sufficient quality; and to effectively provide instructions how to move the scanner correctly in order to obtain satisfactory. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein instructions to the operator that are generated by the software are provided visually on the display screen or audibly from the speakers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein instructions to the operator are provided visually on the display screen or audibly from the speakers by a trained health care professional located at a remote terminal. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein, if the processor determines, during a scan, that not enough pressure is being exerted on the skin, an instruction to increase the pressure is issued to the operator either visually on the display screen, e.g. by displaying a downward pointing arrow, and/or audibly from the speakers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor determines that not enough pressure is being exerted on the skin by at least one of:
 a. analyzing the image and determining that the picture is flat; and   b. measuring the variance of the brightness of the image over some region of interest in the image and determining that the variance is smaller than a threshold value.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an electronic communication component selected from one or more of USB, Lightning, fiber optic, Wi-Fi, UWB, Bluetooth and IR. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an IMU-independent component adapted to alert the user in case of insufficient coupling between the apparatus and the body or if the scanning speed is too fast. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)