US6503202B1
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US
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Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method for flow analysis
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 2000-06-29
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Granted: 2003-01-07
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Expires: 2020-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Medical diagnostic ultrasound methods and systems for automated flow analysis are provided. Multiple cross-sectional areas along a vessel are determined automatically. A processor locates an abnormality as a function of the multiple cross-sectional areas, such as identifying a cross-sectional area that is a threshold amount less than an average cross-sectional area. The abnormal area is highlighted on the display to assist with medical diagnosis. For the carotid artery, the interior and exterior branches are labeled to assist medical diagnosis. The two branches are automatically identified. The branch associated with additional small branches is identified as the exterior carotid.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Hossack
- 👤 Thilaka S. Sumanaweera
- 👤 Anming He Cai
- 👤 Sandy Napel
- 👤 David Paik
- 👤 Brooke Jeffrey, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B8/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated flow analysis, the method comprising the acts of: (a) obtaining first and second data sets corresponding to first and second two dimensional areas of a target, the target including a vessel; (b) determining first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from the first and second data sets, respectively, with a processor; (c) locating an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas with the processor; and (d) indicating the abnormality to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated flow analysis, the method comprising the acts of: (a) obtaining first and second data sets corresponding to first and second two dimensional areas of a target, the target including a vessel; (b) determining first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from the first and second data sets, respectively, with a processor; (c) locating an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas with the processor; and (d) indicating the abnormality to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) generating a set of ultrasound data representing a three-dimensional region of the target; wherein the first and second data sets are included within the set of ultrasound data representing the three-dimensional region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises determining the first and second cross-section areas as a function of Doppler data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein (b) comprises determining the first and second cross-section areas as a function of Doppler energy data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein (b) comprises determining the first and second cross-section areas as a function of distance along the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein (d) comprises displaying a graph representing cross-sectional area as a function of distance along the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) determining an analysis branch as one of two branches in the vessel; wherein (b) and (c) are performed as a function of the analysis branch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 7 wherein (e) comprises: (e1) identifying first and second branches of the vessel with the processor; and (e2) selecting one of the first and second branches as a function of a number of small branches connected with the first and second branches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) excluding data for (b) as a function of a sign of Doppler velocity data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) excluding data for (b) as a function of hemodynamics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises determining a branch cross-sectional area of a branch of the vessel and a sum of cross-sectional areas of a plurality of branches and (c) comprises locating the abnormality in the branch as a function of the branch cross-sectional area and sum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) triggering (a) in response to a cardiac cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein (d) comprises generating an audible output.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound system for automated flow analysis, the system comprising: a memory operable to store first and second data sets corresponding to first and second two dimensional areas of the target, the target including a vessel; a processor operable to determine first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from the first and second data sets, respectively; and an output device operable to indicate an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound system for automated flow analysis, the system comprising: a memory operable to store first and second data sets corresponding to first and second two dimensional areas of the target, the target including a vessel; a processor operable to determine first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from the first and second data sets, respectively; and an output device operable to indicate an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 14 further comprising a three-dimensional data processor for generating a set of ultrasound data representing a three-dimensional region of the target; wherein the first and second data sets are included within the set of ultrasound data representing the three-dimensional region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the first and second data sets comprise Doppler data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second data sets comprise Doppler energy data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the output device comprises a display that displays a graph representing cross-sectional area as a function of distance along the vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the processor determines an analysis branch as one of two branches in the vessel, and wherein the cross-sectional areas are determined as a function of the analysis branch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 14 wherein data from the first and second data sets is excluded as a function of a sign of Doppler velocity data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 wherein data from the first and second data sets is excluded as a function of hemodynamics.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 14 further comprising a transducer having at least two orthogonal arrays operatively connected with the memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated flow analysis of a vessel, the method comprising the acts of: (a) automatically determining first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from first and second ultrasound data sets, respectively; and (b) indicating an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated flow analysis of a vessel, the method comprising the acts of: (a) automatically determining first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from first and second ultrasound data sets, respectively; and (b) indicating an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (c) obtaining the first and second ultrasound data sets from a set of ultrasound data representing a three-dimensional region of the target.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 wherein (a) comprises determining the first and second cross-section areas as a function of Doppler data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 wherein (b) comprises displaying a graph representing cross-sectional area as a function of distance along the vessel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (c) automatically determining an analysis branch as one of two branches in the vessel; wherein (a) and (b) are performed as a function of the analysis branch.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (c) excluding data for (a) as a function of a sign of Doppler velocity data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising: (c) excluding data for (a) as a function of hemodynamics.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 wherein (b) comprises generating an audible output.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
70 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated carotid vessel analysis, the method comprising the acts of: (a) identifying first and second branches of the carotid vessel with a processor; (b) selecting one of the first and second branches as a function of the number of small branches connected with the first and second branches; and (c) automatically labeling the selected one of the first and second branches on a display.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
70 words
A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated carotid vessel analysis, the method comprising the acts of: (a) identifying first and second branches of the carotid vessel with a processor; (b) selecting one of the first and second branches as a function of the number of small branches connected with the first and second branches; and (c) automatically labeling the selected one of the first and second branches on a display.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 31 wherein (a) comprises: (a1) determining contiguous flow regions from ultrasound data representing a three-dimensional region of a target; and (a2) identifying the first and second branches as a function of the contiguous flow regions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 31 wherein (b) comprises selecting the external carotid as the one of the first and second branches associated with the most small branches and selecting the internal carotid as the other of the first and second branches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-06 | 2006-07-08 | 2007-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-06 | 2010-07-08 | 2011-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-06 | 2014-07-08 | 2015-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |