Patent Publication Number: US-2022233171-A1

Title: Systems and methods for controlling volume rate

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure pertains to imaging systems and methods for controlling the volume rate during real-time ultrasound imaging. Particular implementations involve systems configured to adjust sector width and/or number of elevational planes based on anatomical landmarks to control the volume rate. 
     BACKGROUND 
     During ultrasound imaging, multiple planes in a volume may be scanned by an ultrasound transducer array. The multiple planes may be used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) data set. The 3D data set may be processed by a multiplanar reformatter, which reconstructs slices from the 3D data set to provide 2D ultrasound images for viewing. The slices to be reconstructed may be determined by a user or an ultrasound imaging system. The 3D data set may be processed by a volume renderer, which may reconstruct the 3D data set into a 3D image for viewing. Both 2D and 3D ultrasound images generated from the 3D data set may be displayed concurrently. The 2D and 3D images may be displayed at or near real time. However, as the volume scanned gets larger and/or the desired resolution increases, the volume rate (e.g. the rate at which the volume is scanned) of the transducer array may decrease. This may decrease the ability of the multiplanar reformatter to provide real time 2D images and/or the volume renderer to provide real time 3D images. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes systems and methods to control the volume rate at a clinically relevant level by controlling the number of elevational planes and lines per plane (e.g., sector width) acquired based on landmarks within the field of acquisition. For example, systems and methods are provided for obtaining orthogonal plane data to identify landmarks, and use those landmarks to identify a more optimal elevational angle from the defaulted angle, which may minimize the amount of data required for the volume and thus allow for increased volume rate. 
     In accordance with examples of the present disclosure, an ultrasound imaging system may include an ultrasound sensor array configured to scan at least one plane in a region, a signal processor configured to generate at least one image frame from the at least one plane, a data processor in communication with the signal processor, wherein the data processor include a neural network configured to receive the at least one image frame, wherein the neural network is trained to determine whether a feature of interest is present in the at least one image frame, wherein the neural network is further configured, upon determination that the feature of interest is present in the at least one image frame, to output boundary data for the feature of interest, and an acquisition controller configured to receive the boundary data, generate, using the boundary data, scan parameters corresponding to a volume including the feature of interest, and a beamformer in communication with the data processor, wherein the beamformer is configured to receive the scan parameters and cause the ultrasound sensor array to perform subsequent scanning of the volume including the feature of interest in accordance with the scan parameters. 
     In accordance with examples of the present disclosure, a method may include scanning, with an ultrasound sensor array, at least one plane in a region, generating at least one image frame from the at least one plane, analyzing, with a neural network of a data processor, the at least one image frame to determine if a feature of interest is present, if the feature of interest is determined to be present, generating, with the neural network, boundary data for the feature of interest, if the feature of interest is determined to be present, generating, with an acquisition controller of the data processor, scan parameters corresponding to a volume that includes the feature of interest, based at least in part on the boundary data; and scanning, with the ultrasound sensor array, the volume. 
     Any of the methods described herein, or steps thereof, may be embodied in non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions, which when executed may cause a processor of a medical imaging system to perform the method or steps embodied herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an ultrasound system in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing additional components of the ultrasound system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a process for training and deployment of a neural network in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of inputs and outputs of the acquisition controller  144  in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 5  shows representative ultrasound images of scanned volumes in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 6  shows representative ultrasound images in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 7  shows representative ultrasound images of scanned volumes in accordance with examples described herein. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method in accordance with examples described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of certain embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the present systems and methods, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the described systems and methods may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice presently disclosed systems and methods, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present system. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, detailed descriptions of certain features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art so as not to obscure the description of the present system. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present system is defined only by the appended claims. 
     An ultrasound imaging system user may scan a volume with an ultrasound transducer array searching for features of interest by transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals. For example, the user may search for a fetal heart within a fetus or a carotid artery in a neck. A volume is scanned by acquiring ultrasound signals corresponding to a number of spaced two-dimensional imaging planes (e.g., elevational planes). The imaging planes, sometimes referred to simply as planes, may be spaced at regular intervals, that is, a distance between centers of any two planes is the same for the entire volume. The angle between planes at either end of a set of planes may be referred to the elevational angle. If the spacing of the planes is kept constant, the elevational angle determines a number of imaging planes acquired. Each plane includes a number of scan lines, which may also be regularly spaced. If the density of scan lines is held constant, the number of lines in a plane may determine a width of the plane, referred to as the sector width. The more imaging planes and/or greater the sector width, the longer it may take to scan the volume. That is, it lowers volume rate. The number of imaging planes, elevational angle, scan line density, number of scan lines, and/or sector width are examples of scan parameters. 
     Often, the initial volume scanned is larger than a volume of the feature of interest. This may reduce the difficulty of finding the feature of interest in an object. However, scanning a larger volume may decrease the volume rate of the transducer array. This may limit the user&#39;s ability to view the feature of interest in real time. For example, in some instances, the fetal heart rate may be faster than the volume rate of the transducer array. Once a feature of interest is found, a user may adjust scan parameters such as the number of imaging planes and/or the number of lines in each plane (e.g., sector width) to scan an adjusted volume that more closely matches the volume of the feature of interest. In some applications, this may increase volume rate by reducing the volume scanned. However, adjusting these parameters manually is cumbersome and time consuming. Furthermore, some users, especially those with less experience, may inadvertently cause the feature of interest to fall outside the scanned volume while attempting to control the volume rate. 
     An ultrasound imaging system disclosed herein may automatically detect features of interest, and based on the feature of interest detected, adjust a number of imaging planes and/or sector width to adjust the volume scanned to control the volume rate. In some applications, rather than adjusting an initial volume scanned, the ultrasound imaging system may determine a volume to scan based on one or more 2D planes acquired that include a feature of interest. Automatically adjusting and/or setting the volume to be scanned may reduce the time the user spends adjusting scan (e.g., acquisition) parameters and reduce the risk of the user “losing” the feature of interest while attempting to control the volume rate. This may reduce exam time and/or improve diagnostic quality of images acquired in some applications. 
     An ultrasound system according to the present disclosure may utilize an artificial neural network (referred to simply as a neural network), for example a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), an autoencoder neural network, or the like, to automatically detect features of interest in a scanned volume. In various examples, the neural network(s) may be trained using any of a variety of currently known or later developed learning techniques to obtain a neural network (e.g., a trained algorithm or hardware- based system of nodes) that is configured to analyze input data in the form of ultrasound image frames, measurements, and/or statistics and determine whether a feature of interest is present in a plane or volume. Based on the output of the neural network, the ultrasound system may set and/or adjust scan parameters to set the scanned volume to more closely match the volume of the feature of interest. 
     An ultrasound system in accordance with principles of the present invention may include or be operatively coupled to an ultrasound transducer configured to transmit ultrasound pulses toward a medium, e.g., a human body or specific portions thereof, and generate echo signals responsive to the ultrasound pulses. The ultrasound system may include a beamformer configured to perform transmit and/or receive beamforming, and a display configured to display, in some examples, ultrasound images generated by the ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound images may be two-dimensional images or 3-dimensional images (e.g., renders). The ultrasound imaging system may include one or more processors and at least one model of a neural network, which may be implemented in hardware and/or software components. The neural network can be trained to determine whether a feature of interest is present in a scanned volume or plane. 
     The neural network implemented according to the present disclosure may be hardware- (e.g., neurons are represented by physical components) or software-based (e.g., neurons and pathways implemented in a software application), and can use a variety of topologies and learning algorithms for training the neural network to produce the desired output. For example, a software- based neural network may be implemented using a processor (e.g., single or multi-core CPU, a single GPU or GPU cluster, or multiple processors arranged for parallel-processing) configured to execute instructions, which may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, and which when executed cause the processor to perform a trained algorithm for determining whether a feature of interest is located within a scanned volume. The ultrasound system may include a display or graphics processor, which is operable to arrange the ultrasound images (2D, 3D, 4D etc.) and/or additional graphical information, which may include annotations, user instructions, tissue information, patient information, indicators, color coding, highlights, and other graphical components, in a display window for display on a user interface of the ultrasound system. In some examples, the ultrasound image frames may be provided to a storage and/or memory device, such as a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for post-exam review, reporting purposes, or future training (e.g., to continue to enhance the performance of the neural network), especially the image frames used to produce items of interest associated with high confidence levels. The display can be remotely located, and interacted with by users other than the sonographer conducting the imaging, in real-time or asynchronously. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example ultrasound system according to principles of the present disclosure. The ultrasound system  100  may include an ultrasound sensor array  112  configured to transmit ultrasound pulses  114  into a region  116  of a subject, e.g., abdomen, and receive ultrasound echoes  118  responsive to the transmitted pulses as indicated by arrows  10  and  12  respectively. The ultrasound sensor array  112  may be included in a probe (hand-held or affixed) or in a patch (e.g. configured to be adhesively bound to a patient). The region  116  may include one or more features of interest, such as a developing fetus, as shown, or a portion of the developing fetus, such as the heart. Although some illustrative examples may refer to fetuses or fetal anatomy, the teachings of the disclosure are not limited to fetal scans. The region  116  may include a variety of other anatomical objects or portions thereof, such as a kidney or heart, which may be features of interest. As further shown, the ultrasound system  100  can include a beamformer  120 , which may control the ultrasound sensor array  112  to scan a volume in the region  116  as indicated by arrow  14 . The ultrasound system  100  may include a signal processor  122 , which can be configured to generate a stream of discrete ultrasound image frames  124  from the ultrasound echoes  118  received at the array  112  and provided to the signal processor  122  by the beamformer  120  as indicated by arrow  16 . The ultrasound image frames  124  may be individually acquired image frames or a part of a sequence, such as a cineloop. Each frame  124  may correspond to an image plane, such as an elevational plane, in the scanned volume of region  116 . The image frames  124  may be output by the signal processor  122  and stored in local memory  125  of the system  100  as indicated by arrow  18  where they may be accessed later during an exam or during post-exam review. The local memory  125  may be implemented by one or more hard disk drives, solid-state drives, or any other type of suitable storage device comprising non-volatile memory. In addition to the image frames  124 , the local memory  125  may be configured to store additional image data, executable instructions, or any other information necessary for the operation of the system  100 . 
     The image frames  124  can additionally or alternatively be communicated to a data processor  126  as indicated by arrow  20 . The data processor  126  may be configured to recognize features of interest and generate scan parameters for scanning an adjusted volume including at least one recognized feature of interest. The data processor  126  may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, graphical processing units, application specific integrated circuit, and/or other processor type. The data processor  126  may receive image frames  124  from the local memory  125  in some applications, for example, during post-exam review. In some examples, the data processor  126  may be configured to recognize features of interest by implementing at least one neural network, such as neural network  128 , which can be trained to recognize features of interest in a scanned volume. The data processor  126  may include an acquisition controller  144 . The acquisition controller  144  may provide control signals to provide scan parameters to the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112  as indicated by arrow  22 . For example, the acquisition controller  144  may control a number of scan planes, a number of lines per plane, and/or steering of ultrasound beams generated by the ultrasound sensor array  112  and/or beamformer  120 . In some applications, the scan parameters may be based, at least in part, on the output of network  128  as indicated by arrow  24 . In some examples, the data processor  126  may optionally include multiple processors. For example, network  128  may be included on a first processor  130  and acquisition controller  144  may be included on a second processor  132 . In other examples, the network  128  and acquisition controller  144  may be included on a single processor. 
     In some examples, network  128  may be a static learning network. That is, the network may be fully trained on the system  100  or another system and executable instructions for implementing the fully-trained network  128  are provided to the data processor  126 . In other embodiments which are generally equivalent to the static learning network, data processor  126  may be provided with executable instructions which implement functions using similar inputs, which process those inputs in a manner similar to the trained network, and which output similar data. 
     In some examples, the network  128  may be a dynamic, continuous learning network. In such examples, the executable instructions for implementing the network  128  are modified based on the results of each ultrasound exam. In various examples, the data processor  126  can also be coupled, communicatively or otherwise, to a database  127  as indicated by arrow  26 . The database  127  may be configured to store various data types, including executable instructions, training data, and newly acquired, patient-specific data. In some examples, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the database  127  may be stored on the local memory  125 , however, the database  127  may be implemented in a separate storage location on system  100 . 
     The ultrasound system  100  can be configured to acquire ultrasound data from one or more regions of interest  116 , which may include an artery, fetus, other anatomy, or features thereof. The ultrasound sensor array  112  may include at least one transducer array configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The settings of the ultrasound sensor array  112  can be preset for performing a particular scan, and in examples, can be adjustable during a particular scan. A variety of transducer arrays may be used. The number and arrangement of transducer elements included in the sensor array  112  may vary in different examples. The ultrasound sensor array  112  may include a 2D array of transducer elements, corresponding to a matrix array probe. The 2D matrix arrays may be configured to scan electronically in both the elevational and azimuth dimensions (via phased array beamforming) for 2D or 3D imaging. In some examples, the ultrasound sensor array  112  may include a linear (e.g., 1D) or phased array. However, a linear or phased array may only provide control over the width and/or depth dimensions of the scanned volume. 
     In addition to B-mode imaging, imaging modalities implemented according to the disclosures herein can also include shear-wave and/or Doppler, for example. A variety of users may handle and operate the ultrasound system  100  to perform the methods described herein. In some examples, the user may be an inexperienced, novice ultrasound operator unable to accurately adjust a location and/or dimensions of a volume to be scanned. In some cases, one or more components of the system  100  is controlled by a robot (positioning, settings, etc.), and can replace the human operator data to perform the methods described herein. For instance, the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112  may be configured to utilize the findings obtained by the data processor  126  to adjust a number of image planes and/or number of lines per plane to set or adjust a volume to be scanned. The adjustment may maintain a feature of interest within the adjusted volume to be scanned. According to such examples, the ultrasound system  100  can be configured to operate in automated fashion by adjusting one or more parameters of the transducer, signal processor, or beamformer in response to feedback received from the data processor  126 . 
     In some examples, the beamformer  120  may comprise a microbeamformer or a combination of a microbeamformer and a main beamformer, coupled to the ultrasound sensor array  112 . The beamformer  120  may control the transmission of ultrasonic energy, for example by forming ultrasonic pulses into focused beams. The beamformer  120  may also be configured to control the reception of ultrasound signals such that discernable image data may be produced and processed with the aid of other system components. The role of the beamformer  120  may vary in different ultrasound system varieties. In some examples, the beamformer  120  may comprise two separate beamformers: a transmit beamformer configured to receive and process pulsed sequences of ultrasonic energy for transmission into a subject, and a separate receive beamformer configured to amplify, delay and/or sum received ultrasound echo signals. In some examples, the beamformer  120  may include a microbeamformer operating on groups of sensor elements for bother transmit and receive beamforming, coupled to a main beamformer which operates on the group inputs and outputs for both transmit and receive beamforming, respectively. In some examples, the beamformer  120  may receive the scan parameters output by the data processor  126 . 
     The signal processor  122  may be communicatively, operatively and/or physically coupled with the sensor array  112  and/or the beamformer  120 . In some examples, the signal processor may be housed together with the sensor array  112  or it may be physically separate from but communicatively (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) coupled thereto. The signal processor  122  may be configured to receive unfiltered and disorganized ultrasound data embodying the ultrasound echoes  118  received at the sensor array  112 . From this data, the signal processor  122  may continuously generate a plurality of ultrasound image frames  124  as a user scans the region of interest  116 . 
     In particular examples, neural network  128  may comprise a deep learning network trained, using training sets of labeled imaging data, to determine when a feature of interest is within the scanned volume or plane. In some examples, the neural network  128  may analyze an image plane for anatomical landmarks to determine if a feature of interest is present in a scanned volume. In some examples, the neural network  128  may analyze two or more orthogonal planes for anatomical landmarks (e.g., A and B planes of a fetal heart). Examples of anatomical landmarks include, but are not limited to, circular or tubular features, which may indicate blood vessels, local intensity maxima, which may indicate an implantable device, and regions of high flow, which may indicate a heart valve. Once a feature of interest has been recognized, the neural network  128  may provide an output to the acquisition controller  144 . The output may include a location of the feature of interest and/or dimensions of the feature of interest, which may collectively be referred to as boundary data of the feature of interest. 
     Based on the output received from the neural network  128 , the acquisition controller  144  may determine a variety of scan parameters, for example, a location to scan, a number of imaging planes to acquire, and/or a number of lines per plane to acquire to generate adjusted scan parameters corresponding to a volume or adjusted volume to be scanned. The acquisition controller  144  may output the adjusted scan parameters to the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112 . The adjusted scan parameters output by the acquisition controller  144  may cause the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112  to adjust the transmitted ultrasound pulses  114  to acquire the number of image planes and lines per plane at locations indicated by the adjusted scan parameters. In some applications, the adjusted volume acquired by ultrasound sensor array  112  may be smaller than the initial volume scanned. Thus, the volume rate may be increased while still imaging the feature of interest in some applications. 
       FIG. 2  shows additional components of the system  100 . As discussed above, one or more acquired ultrasound image frames can be displayed to a user via one or more components of system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , such components can include a display processor  158  communicatively coupled with data processor  126  as indicated by arrow  28 . The display processor  158  is further coupled with a user interface  160  as indicated by arrow  32 , such that the display processor  158  can link the data processor  126  (and thus the one or more neural networks and acquisition controller operating thereon) to the user interface  160 , enabling the data processor outputs to be displayed on a display  164  of the user interface  160 . For example, 2D planes and/or 3D volumes may be displayed. The 2D planes and/or 3D volumes displayed may be based on the volume initially scanned by the user and/or the volume scanned based on the scan parameters generated by the acquisition controller  144 . The display  164  may include a display device implemented using a variety of known display technologies, such as LCD, LED, OLED, or plasma display technology. In some examples, the display processor  158  can be configured to generate ultrasound images  162  from the image frames  124  received at the data processor  126  and/or local memory  125  as indicated by arrow  30 . In some examples, the user interface  160  can be configured to display the ultrasound images  162  in real time as an ultrasound scan is being performed. In some examples, user display  164  may comprise multiple displays. In some examples, the ultrasound images  162  may be displayed on a first display  164  and user interface options may be displayed on a second display  164  concurrently. 
     The user interface  160  can also be configured to receive a user input  166  via a user control or controls  168  at any time before, during, or after an ultrasound scan as indicated by arrow  34 . For instance, the user interface  160  may be interactive, receiving user input  166  indicating a desired exam type and/or feature of interest. In some examples, the desired exam type and/or feature of interest may be provided to the neural network  128 . In these examples, the neural network  128  may search for particular features of interest based on the exam type or feature of interest indicated by the user. In some examples, the input  166  may include an adjustment one or more imaging settings (e.g., gain). In some examples, the user control(s)  168  may include one or more hard controls (e.g., buttons, knobs, dials, encoders, mouse, trackball or others). In some examples, the user control(s)  168  may additionally or alternatively include soft controls (e.g., GUI control elements or simply, GUI controls) provided on a touch sensitive display. In some examples, display  164  may be a touch sensitive display that includes one or more soft controls of the user control(s)  168 . 
     The configuration of the components shown in  FIG. 2 , along with  FIG. 1 , may vary. For example, the system  100  can be portable or stationary. Various portable devices, e.g., laptops, tablets, smart phones, remote displays and interfaces, or the like, may be used to implement one or more functions of the system  100 . The physical configuration ofthe components shown in  FIGS. 1-2  may vary. For example, the ultrasound sensor array  112 , beamformer  120 , signal processor  122 , memory  125 , and data processor  126  may be included in an ultrasound probe and the user interface  160  and display  158  may be included in a separate computing device (e.g., ultrasound base system, laptop, tablet). The ultrasound probe and computing device may be physically (e.g., cable) or wirelessly coupled. In another example, the ultrasound sensor array  112  is included in an ultrasound probe and all of the other components of system  100  are included in a base unit of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound probe may be physically or wirelessly coupled to the base unit. Other physical configurations may also be used. 
     Some or all of the data processing may be performed remotely, (e.g., in the cloud). In examples that incorporate such devices, the ultrasound sensor array  112  may be connectable via a USB interface, for example. In some examples, various components shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be combined. For instance, neural network  128  may be merged with the acquisition controller  144 . According to such examples, the output generated by neural network  128  may still be input into acquisition controller  144 , but the network and controller may constitute sub-components of a larger, layered network, for example. In some examples, various components shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may include multiple components. For example, signal processor  122  may include multiple processors (e.g., Doppler processor, B-mode processor, scan converter, multiplanar reformatter, volume renderer). 
     In some examples, the system  100  can be configured to implement neural network  128 , which may include a CNN, to determine when a feature of interest is located in a scanned volume or plane. In some examples, neural network  128  may include multiple neural networks. The neural network  128  may be trained with imaging data such as image frames where one or more features of interest are labeled as present. Neural network  128  may be trained to recognize target anatomical features associated with standard ultrasound exams (e.g., different standard views of the heart for echocardiography) or a user may train neural network  128  to locate one or more custom target anatomical features (e.g., implanted device, liver tumor). 
     In some examples, a neural network training algorithm associated with the neural network  128  can be presented with thousands or even millions of training data sets in order to train the neural network to determine when at least one feature of interest is present in a scanned volume or plane. In various examples, the number of ultrasound images used to train the neural network(s) may range from about 50,000 to 200,000 or more. The number of images used to train the network(s) may be increased if higher numbers of different items of interest are to be identified, or to accommodate a greater variety of patient variation, e.g., weight, height, age, etc. The number of training images may differ for different features of interest or sub-features thereof, and may depend on variability in the appearance of certain features. For example, tumors typically have a greater range of variability than normal anatomy. In another example, fetal hearts may vary as the development of the fetus progresses. Training the network  128  to assess the presence of items of interest associated with features for which population-wide variability is high may necessitate a greater volume of training images. 
       FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a process for training and deployment of a neural network in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The process shown in  FIG. 3  may be used to train network  128 . The left hand side of  FIG. 3 , phase  1 , illustrates the training of a neural network. To train neural network  128 , training sets which include multiple instances of input arrays and output classifications may be presented to the training algorithm(s) of the neural network(s) (e.g., AlexNet training algorithm, as described by Krizhevsky, A., Sutskever, I. and Hinton, G. E. “ImageNet Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks,” NIPS 2012 or its descendants). Training may involve the selection of a starting network architecture  312  and the preparation of training data  314 . The starting network architecture  312  may be a blank architecture (e.g., an architecture with defined layers and arrangement of nodes but without any previously trained weights) or a partially trained network, such as the inception networks, which may then be further tailored for classification of ultrasound images. The starting architecture  312  (e.g., blank weights) and training data  314  are provided to a training engine  310  for training the model as indicated by arrow  36 . Upon sufficient number of iterations (e.g., when the model performs consistently within an acceptable error), the model  320  is said to be trained and ready for deployment, which is illustrated in the middle of  FIG. 3 , phase  2 . The right hand side of  FIG. 3 , or phase  3 , the trained model  320  is applied (via inference engine  330  as indicated by arrow  38 ) for analysis of new data  332  as indicated by arrow  40 , which is data that has not been presented to the model during the initial training (in phase  1 ). For example, the new data  332  may include unknown images such as live ultrasound images acquired during a scan of a patient (e.g., image frames  124  in  FIG. 1 ). The trained model  320  implemented via engine  330  is used to classify the unknown images in accordance with the training of the model  320  to provide an output  334  (e.g., boundary data for a feature of interest present in a scanned volume) as indicated by arrow  42 . The output  334  (e.g., dimensions and location within the scanned volume of a feature of interest) may then be used by the system for subsequent processes  340  (e.g., as input to one or more other machine-learning models as indicated by arrow  44 , and for effecting an action by the system  100  such as generating scan parameters for scanning an adjusted volume with the feature of interest). 
     In the examples where the trained model  320  is used to implement neural network  128 , the starting architecture may be that of a convolutional neural network, or a deep convolutional neural network, which may be trained to perform image frame indexing, image segmentation, image comparison, or any combinations thereof. With the increasing volume of stored medical image data, the availability of high-quality clinical images is increasing, which may be leveraged to train a neural network to learn to determine when a feature of interest is present in a scanned volume. The training data  314  may include multiple (hundreds, often thousands or even more) annotated/labeled images, also referred to as training images. It will be understood that the training image need not include a full image produced by an imagining system (e.g., representative of the full field of view of the probe) but may include patches or portions of images of the labeled item of interest. 
     In various examples, the trained neural network  128  may be implemented, at least in part, in a computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions executed by a processor, e.g., data processor  126 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of inputs and outputs of the acquisition controller  144  in accordance with examples described herein. The acquisition controller  144  may receive an output  402  from the neural network  128  (e.g., output  334  shown  FIG. 3 ) as indicated by arrow  46 . The output may include boundary data such as dimensions and location of a feature of interest. Optionally, the acquisition controller  144  may receive original scan parameters  404  used to initially scan a volume or plane in the region  116  as indicated by arrow  48 . The original scan parameters may be received from the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112 . The acquisition controller  144  may use the inputs  402  and  404  to generate adjusted scan parameters  406  as indicated by arrow  50 . The adjusted scan parameters  406  may include beamformer variables such as which transducer elements of the transducer array to activate, when to activate the transducer elements, and/or delays to apply to each channel of the beamformer and/or microbeamformer. The adjusted scan parameters  406  may be provided to the beamformer  120  and/or ultrasound sensor array  112 . The adjusted scan parameters  406  may cause the ultrasound sensor array  112  to scan an adjusted volume that includes the feature of interest. By adjusting the volume scanned by the ultrasound sensor array  112 , the acquisition controller  144  may control the volume rate in some applications. 
       FIG. 5  shows representative ultrasound images of scanned volumes in accordance with examples described herein. Pane  502  is a 3D ultrasound image of a portion of a carotid artery  500  in an initially scanned volume. Pane  504  is a 2D image of longitudinal plane of the portion of the carotid artery  500 . Pane  506  is a  2 D image of a transverse plane of the portion of the carotid artery  500 . In some examples, the longitudinal and transverse planes may have been extracted from the 3D volume by a multiplanar reformatter. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the neural network  128  analyzed the transverse plane shown in pane  506  and determined the carotid artery  500  (e.g., the feature of interest) was present in the scanned volume as indicated by the circle  508 . The neural network  128  provided boundary data of the carotid artery  500  to the acquisition controller  144 . Based on the boundary data, the acquisition controller  144  generated adjusted scan parameters. In this example, the adjusted scan parameters correspond to an adjusted elevational angle, as indicated by lines  510 . In this example, the adjusted elevational angle is narrower than the elevational angle of the initially scanned volume. 
     Pane  512  is a 3D ultrasound image of a portion of the carotid artery  500  in the adjusted volume. Pane  514  is a 2D image of longitudinal plane of the portion of the carotid artery  500  in the adjusted volume. Pane  506  is a 2D image of a transverse plane of the portion of the carotid artery in the adjusted volume. As can be seen most notably in pane  516 , the adjusted volume more closely aligns with a volume of the carotid artery  500 . Thus, less “extraneous” tissue around the carotid artery  500  is scanned. The reduction in scanned volume of the adjusted volume compared to the initially scanned volume may provide for an increase in volume rate. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the volume rate increased from 3Hz to 7Hz. 
     In some applications, a user may acquire one or more 2D planes in a volume prior to scanning the entire volume. In these applications, the ultrasound imaging system may determine a volume to scan based, at least in part, on the neural network&#39;s analysis of the one or more 2D planes. 
       FIG. 6  shows representative ultrasound images in accordance with examples described herein. Pane  602  is a 2D image of longitudinal plane of a portion of the carotid artery  600 . Pane  604  is a 2D image of a transverse plane of the portion of the carotid artery  600 . In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the neural network  128  may analyze pane  602  and/or  604  and determine the carotid artery  600  is present and generate boundary data for the carotid artery  600  (e.g., the feature of interest). The boundary data may be provided to the acquisition controller  144 , which may generate adjusted scan parameters that define a volume to be scanned. Pane  602  is a 2D image of longitudinal plane of a portion of the carotid artery  600  based on the adjusted scan parameters. Pane  604  is a 2D image of a transverse plane of the portion of the carotid artery  600  based on the adjusted scan parameters. Although still only acquiring 2D planes, the adjusted scan parameters have increased the frame rate from 16Hz to 20Hz. A volume scanned based on the adjusted scan parameters may have a higher volume rate than a volumes scanned based on the initial scan parameters used to acquire the images shown in panes  602  and  604 . 
     In some examples, the ultrasound imaging system may adjust the scan parameters in multiple planes, not just a single plane, such as the transverse plane. 
       FIG. 7  shows representative ultrasound images of scanned volumes in accordance with examples described herein. Panes  702 ,  704 , and  706  show various 2D images of a fetal heart  700 . Pane  708  is a 3D image of the fetal heart  700 . In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , the neural network  128  may analyze pane  702 ,  704 , and/or  706  to determine the fetal heart  700  is present and generate boundary data for the fetal heart  700  (e.g., the feature of interest). The boundary data may be provided to the acquisition controller  144 , which may generate adjusted scan parameters that define a volume to be scanned. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , the adjusted scan parameters may reduce the sector width as shown by lines  710  in pane  702  and reduce the elevational angle as shown by lines  712  in pane  704 . A volume scanned including the fetal heart  700  based on the adjusted scan parameters may be scanned at a faster rate (e.g., higher volume rate) than the initially scanned volume shown in  FIG. 7 . In some applications, the higher volume rate may allow better visualization of the movement of the fetal heart  700 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart  800  of a method in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure. For example, the method of flow chart  800  may be performed as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  in some applications. At block  802 , a step of “scanning at least one plane in a region,” may be performed. In some examples, scanning may be performed by an ultrasound sensor array  112 . In some examples, the ultrasound sensor array  112  may be controlled by a beamformer  120 . At block  804 , a step of “generating at least one image frame” may be performed. The at least one image frame may be generated from the scanning of the at least one plane in some examples. In some examples, the at least one image frame may be generated by a signal processor  122 . At block  806 , a step of “analyzing at least one plane to determine if a feature of interest is present,” may be performed. In some examples, the analyzing may be performed by a neural network  128 , which may in some examples be included in a data processor  126 . In some examples, the neural network  128  may be trained to search for anatomical landmarks to determine if the feature of interest is present. If the feature of interest is determined to be present at block  806 , at block  808 , a step of “generating boundary data for the feature of interest,” may be performed. In some examples, the generating may be performed by the neural network  128 . At block  810 , a step of “generating scan parameters” may be performed. In some examples, the generating may be performed by an acquisition controller  144 . In some examples, the acquisition controller  144  may be included with the data processor  126 . The scan parameters may correspond to a volume that includes the feature of interest and be based at least in part on the boundary data provided by the neural network  128 . At block  812 , a step of “scanning the volume” may be performed. In some examples, the scanning may be performed by the ultrasound sensor array  112 . In some examples, the adjusted volume may be provided on a display. 
     The systems and methods described herein may provide improvements to the functioning of an ultrasound imaging system in some applications. For example, the systems and methods described herein may allow for automatic and/or semi-automatic adjustment of dimensions of a volume and/or volume rate of acquisition of the ultrasound imaging system. This may reduce the amount of time required by a user to adjust settings on the ultrasound imaging system manually. This may further reduce the risk that the user will lose a feature of interest within a scanned volume while adjusting a volume scanned by the ultrasound imaging machine. 
     In various embodiments where components, systems and/or methods are implemented using a programmable device, such as a computer-based system or programmable logic, it should be appreciated that the above-described systems and methods can be implemented using any of various known or later developed programming languages, such as “C”, “C++”, “C#”, “Java”, “Python”, “VHDL” and the like. Accordingly, various storage media, such as magnetic computer disks, optical disks, electronic memories and the like, can be prepared that can contain information that can direct a device, such as a computer, to implement the above-described systems and/or methods. Once an appropriate device has access to the information and programs contained on the storage media, the storage media can provide the information and programs to the device, thus enabling the device to perform functions of the systems and/or methods described herein. For example, if a computer disk containing appropriate materials, such as a source file, an object file, an executable file or the like, were provided to a computer, the computer could receive the information, appropriately configure itself and perform the functions of the various systems and methods outlined in the diagrams and flowcharts above to implement the various functions. That is, the computer could receive various portions of information from the disk relating to different elements of the above-described systems and/or methods, implement the individual systems and/or methods and coordinate the functions of the individual systems and/or methods described above. 
     In view of this disclosure it is noted that the various methods and devices described herein can be implemented in hardware, software and firmware. Further, the various methods and parameters are included by way of example only and not in any limiting sense. In view of this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art can implement the present teachings in determining their own techniques and needed equipment to affect these techniques, while remaining within the scope of the invention. The functionality of one or more of the processors described herein may be incorporated into a fewer number or a single processing unit (e.g., a CPU) and may be implemented using application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or general purpose processing circuits which are programmed responsive to executable instruction to perform the functions described herein. 
     Although the present system may have been described with particular reference to an ultrasound imaging system, it is also envisioned that the present system can be extended to other medical imaging systems where one or more images are obtained in a systematic manner. Accordingly, the present system may be used to obtain and/or record image information related to, but not limited to renal, testicular, breast, ovarian, uterine, thyroid, hepatic, lung, musculoskeletal, splenic, cardiac, arterial and vascular systems, as well as other imaging applications related to ultrasound-guided interventions. Further, the present system may also include one or more programs which may be used with conventional imaging systems so that they may provide features and advantages of the present system. Certain additional advantages and features of this disclosure may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying the disclosure, or may be experienced by persons employing the novel system and method of the present disclosure. Another advantage of the present systems and method may be that conventional medical image systems can be easily upgraded to incorporate the features and advantages of the present systems, devices, and methods. 
     Of course, it is to be appreciated that any one of the examples, embodiments or processes described herein may be combined with one or more other examples, embodiments and/or processes or be separated and/or performed amongst separate devices or device portions in accordance with the present systems, devices and methods. 
     Finally, the above-discussion is intended to be merely illustrative of the present system and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present system has been described in particular detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should also be appreciated that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments may be devised by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the broader and intended spirit and scope of the present system as set forth in the claims that follow. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.