Abstract:
An ultrasound imaging system ( 10 ) allows the entry of protocol codes that correspond to respective ultrasound examinations, and then uses the protocol codes to automatically configure the imaging system ( 10 ) for the corresponding examination. The imaging system ( 10 ) uses the protocol codes to select all of the operating parameters for the imaging system ( 10 ), to prompt a sonographer using the imaging system ( 10 ) to attach the appropriate ultrasound probe ( 20 ), and to determine the content and format of a display ( 16 ) that is presented or a report that is generated at the conclusion of the examination.

Description:
[0001]     This invention claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/501,852, filed Sep. 10, 2003. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to ultrasound imaging systems, and, more particularly, to a system and method facilitating the setup of ultrasound imaging systems based on the type of ultrasound examination that is to be performed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Ultrasound imaging systems are widely used to obtain a variety of ultrasound images. Ultrasound imaging systems may be used to scan different parts of the body and the same parts of the body using different techniques or imaging modalities. For example, the arm of a patient may be scanned by placing an ultrasound transducer against different surfaces of the arm to obtain images from different directions. Further, each image may be obtained by either keeping the ultrasound transducer stationery or scanning the transducer across the surface of the skin while the image is being obtained. To obtain the proper image, the sonographer conducting the ultrasound examination must be provided with information indicating the type of ultrasound examination to be performed. The imaging system then must be configured in accordance with that information. Configuring the imaging system involves, for example, selecting the frequency of the transmitted and received ultrasound, selecting the imaging mode, such as frequency compounding, harmonic imaging, etc., selecting the type of scanhead to be used, and, in some cases, selecting the type of report that is to be generated from the examination.  
         [0004]     Several techniques are conventionally used to configure ultrasound imaging systems. The most basic technique is for the sonographer conducting the ultrasound examination to simply read the necessary information from a patient&#39;s chart and then configure the imaging system for the examination procedure that is to be performed. Most hospitals and other patient care facilities use protocol codes to identify the type of ultrasound examination that is scheduled for a patient. For example, there may be one protocol code for an echo stress exam, another protocol code for an obstetrics ultrasound exam, another protocol code for a gastro-intestinal ultrasound exam, and so forth. The sonographer reads the protocol code from the patient&#39;s chart and configures the ultrasound imaging system accordingly based on either recollection or with references to a handbook or other document. The sonographer also generally enters patient identifying information, such as the patient&#39;s name or identification number, so that the identifying information can be displayed in a print-out or recording of the image.  
         [0005]     There are several disadvantages and problems with the above-described technique for configuring ultrasound imaging systems. First, it requires a substantial period of time for the sonographer to read the chart, determine the protocol code(s) for one or more ultrasound examinations, and then configure the imaging system by manipulating controls or manually entering information and selecting a scanhead that is appropriate for the examination that is to be conducted. In the event the sonographer has not memorized the configuration parameters for each protocol code, the need to refer to a manual or other document further slows down the configuration of the imaging system. Second, this technique is prone to errors because it is fairly easy for an sonographer to incorrectly configure the imaging system for the examination that is to be performed, particularly if the sonographer is attempting to rely on memory for the configuration parameters corresponding to a protocol code. If the imaging system is configured incorrectly, the quality of the examination may very well be compromised.  
         [0006]     Attempts have been made to solve the above-described productivity and error problems. One approach is to interface an ultrasound imaging system with a clinical information system that is maintained by many health-care providers. The clinical information system stores information about the patient, the procedures that are to be performed on the patient, information about physicians responsible for the patient, the patient&#39;s medical history, insurance information, and other information pertaining to the patient. The ultrasound imaging system may interface with the clinical information system through various means, such as a local area network or a wireless communication system. In use, the sonographer obtains patient identifying information from the patient or the patient&#39;s chart, and enters that information into the ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound imaging system then transmits the patient identifying information to the clinical information system, which uses the patient identifying information to access information about the patient. The clinical information system then downloads a “digital requisition” to the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition includes information specific to the patient, such as the procedures that are to be formed, the name of the patient&#39;s physicians, insurance coverage information, medical alerts (HIV status, allergies, etc.) and other information about the patient. The digital requisition may also include information about the patient&#39;s medical history, including prior ultrasound images, which can be compared to the image being obtained during the examination procedure. The sonographer then configures the imaging system based on the digital requisition.  
         [0007]     Although interfacing ultrasound imaging systems to clinical information systems provides significant performance advantages and lessens the possibility of mistakes, it is still less than ideal. It is still possible for the sonographer to enter the wrong patient identifying information, and thereby receive the wrong digital requisition. Also, it still requires significant time for the sonographer to properly configure the imaging system, and the sonographer may configure the imaging system incorrectly or less than optimum for the procedure that is to be performed.  
         [0008]     A technique for ensuring that the correct digital requisition is used to configure an ultrasound imaging system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,155 to Sluis. According to this approach, the patient to be examined is provided with some type of storage media, such as a bar code, smartcard, or personal digital assistant. The storage media stores patient identifying information that uniquely identifies the patient. The storage media is read by the ultrasound imaging system to determine the patient identifying information. The patient identifying information is then used to retrieve the digital requisition from either internal storage, such as a disk drive, or external storage, such a clinical information system. The retrieved digital requisition is then used to automatically configure the ultrasound imaging system. The technique described in the Sluis patent largely avoids the problem of incorrectly configuring the ultrasound imaging system for a patient as long as the patient provides the sonographer with storage media containing the correct patient identifying information. However, this technique requires that all patients that are to undergo an ultrasound examination be provided with storage media containing the correct patient identifying information. Also, the technique disclosed in the Sluis patent requires the sonographer to properly select an examination from a menu based on the digital requisition.  
         [0009]     Another approach to facilitating the use of medical diagnostic systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,755 to Schraag et al. The Schraag et al. system provides an instruction manual for operating a medical monitor. The instruction manual contains clear text instructions for setting up the monitor along with questions for the patient to answer. The instruction manual also includes respective bar codes corresponding to each answer. The patient configures the monitor in accordance with the instructions, and answers the questions by scanning the bar-code corresponding to the correct answer. The diagnostic information obtained by the monitor, as well as the patient&#39;s coded answers, are downloaded to a medical facility for analysis by a health-care practitioner. The codes may also be decoded by the monitor to provide clear text instructions for operating the monitor. Although the monitor described by Schraag et al. does facilitate the entry of information in to the monitor, the entered information does not automatically set up the monitor for any specific purpose nor does it tag the test results with information identifying the patient. As a result, the use of the Schraag et al. monitor is still time-consuming and prone to error.  
         [0010]     There is therefore a need for a system that automatically configures ultrasound imaging systems in a manner that avoids the problems and limitations of conventional system and techniques for configuring ultrasound imaging systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound imaging probe coupled to an ultrasound signal path. The system also includes an output device for displaying or recording ultrasound images, and an input device for allowing a protocol code to be entered into the imaging system. These protocol codes are linked to respective sets of configuration parameters that may be accessed by the system. A processor included in the system determines the protocol code entered through the input device and then accesses the storage device to determine the set of configuration parameters corresponding to the entered protocol code. The processor then configures the ultrasound imaging system in accordance with the determined set of configuration parameters. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view an ultrasound imaging system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of pertinent portions of the imaging system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the software executed by a processor in the imaging system of  FIG. 1  and showing the method in which the imaging system of  FIG. 1  operates. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to ultrasound imaging systems. Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these particular details. In other instances, well-known circuits, control signals, and timing protocols have not been shown in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.  
         [0016]     An ultrasound imaging system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is illustrated  FIG. 1 . The system  10  includes a chassis  12  containing most of the electronic circuitry for the system  10 . The chassis  12  is mounted on a cart  14 , and a display  16  is mounted on the chassis  12 . An ultrasound imaging probe  20  is connected to the chassis  14  by a cable  24 . Different imaging probes  20  are generally used for different types of ultrasound examinations. The chassis  12  includes a keyboard and controls, generally indicated by reference numeral  28 , for allowing a sonographer to configure the imaging system  10  and enter information about the patient or the type of examination that is being conducted.  
         [0017]     In operation, the probe  20  is placed against the skin of a patient (not shown) and either held stationery or moved to acquire an image of blood or tissues beneath the skin. The image is presented on the display  16 , and it may be recorded by a recorder (not shown) or data storage medium (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The system  10  may also record or print a report containing text and images. Data corresponding to the image may also be downloaded through a suitable data link, such as the Internet or a local area network. The type of image shown on the display  16 , the type of report recorded or printed, and the type of data downloaded will often depend on the type of ultrasound examination that is being conducted.  
         [0018]     The above-described components of the imaging system  10  are conventional and are commonly used to obtain ultrasound images. The imaging system  10  according to one embodiment of the invention differs from conventional imaging systems by using protocol codes, which may be standardized throughout the healthcare field, to automatically configure the imaging system  10 . The protocol codes are used in a manner that will be explained in detail in connection with  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]     The electrical components in the ultrasound imaging system  10  are illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . The ultrasound imaging probe  20  is coupled through the cable  24  to an ultrasound signal path  40  of conventional design. Although one type of ultrasound imaging probe is shown in  FIG. 2 , it will be understood that other types of imaging probes can and generally will be used depending upon the type of ultrasound examination being conducted. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the imaging probe  20  and all other imaging probes that will be used in the system  10  preferably provide probe identifying signals to a processing unit  50  to allow the processing unit  50  to determine the type of probe  20  currently being used.  
         [0020]     As is well-known in the art, the ultrasound signal path  40  includes a transmitter (not shown) coupling electrical signals to the probe  20 , an acquisition unit (not shown) that receives electrical signals from the probe  20  corresponding to ultrasound echoes, a signal processing unit (not shown) that processes the signals from the acquisition unit to perform a variety of functions, such as isolating returns from specific depths or isolating returns from blood flowing through vessels, and a scan converter (not shown) that converts the signals from the signal processing unit so that they are suitable for use by the display  16 . The ultrasound signal path  40  also includes a control module  44  that interfaces with the processing unit  50  to control the operation of the above-described units. The ultrasound signal path  40  may, of course, contain components in addition to those described above, and, it suitable instances, some of the components described above may be omitted.  
         [0021]     The processing unit  50  contains a number of components, including a central processor unit (“CPU”)  54 , random access memory (“RAM”)  56 , and read only memory (“ROM”)  58 , to name a few. As is well-known in the art, the ROM  58  stores a program of instructions that are executed by the CPU  54 , as well as initialization data for use by the CPU  54 . The RAM  56  provides temporary storage of data and instructions for use by the CPU  54 . The processing unit  50  interfaces with a mass storage device, such as a disk drive  60 , for permanent storage of data, such as data corresponding to ultrasound images obtained by the system  10 . However, such image data is initially stored in an image storage device  64  that is coupled to a signal path  66  extending between the ultrasound signal path  40  and the processing unit  50 . The storage drive  60  also preferably stores sets of configuration parameters linked to respective protocol codes. However, in another embodiment the sets of configuration parameters linked to respective protocol codes are stored in the a clinical information system  70  that may be accessed through suitable means such as a local area network  74 , a modem  76  or a wireless communication link (not shown). Therefore, once a protocol code has been entered into the system, the processing unit  50  can determine the set of configuration parameters that corresponds to the entered protocol code.  
         [0022]     The processing unit  50  also interfaces with the keyboard and controls  28 , which may be used to enter protocol codes. The keyboard and controls  28  may also be manipulated by the sonographer to manually configure the ultrasound imaging system and enter information. The processing unit  50  preferably interfaces with a report printer  80  that provides reports containing text and one or more images. The type of reports provided by the printer  80  preferably depends on the type of ultrasound examination that was conducted using the system  10 .  
         [0023]     The operation of the ultrasound imaging system  10  will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  comprises a flowchart showing the operation of the ultrasound imaging system  10 , which is controlled by the processing unit  50  in accordance with a program stored in the ROM  58 . The flowchart of  FIG. 3  thus also constitutes an explanation of the software stored in the ROM  58  that is executed by the CPU  54 .  
         [0024]     The operation begins at step  100 , where a sonographer reads a patient&#39;s chart to obtain the protocol code(s) for one or more ultrasound examinations that are to be conducted. However, the protocol code(s) may be obtained by means other than reading them from a patient&#39;s chart. The sonographer then enters the protocol code for the first (and possibly only) ultrasound examination that is to be performed at step  104 . However, if more than one ultrasound examination is to be conducted, the sonographer can enter multiple protocol codes at step  104 . The processing unit  50  retrieves the sets of configuration parameter(s) corresponding to the entered protocol code(s) at step  106 . The processing unit  50  then uses the first set of configuration parameters to automatically configure the imaging system  10  in the optimum manner for the corresponding ultrasound examination at step  110 . However, in other embodiments of the invention, the manner in which the imaging system is automatically configured at step  110  is determined by a combination of an entered protocol code and information about the patient, such as the patient&#39;s weight, age or sex.  
         [0025]     Before the sonographer begins the ultrasound examination, the processing unit  50  reads the probe identifying signals from the probe  20  at step  114 . The processing unit  50  then determines at step  116  if the probe connected to the ultrasound signal path  40  is appropriate for the examination that corresponds to the entered protocol code. If not, the processing unit  50  causes a message to be shown on the display  16  at step  118  that prompts the sonographer to connect the correct probe  20  to the ultrasound signal path  40 . The operation then returns to step  114  to read the probe identifying signals and confirm at step  116  that the correct probe  20  is now connected to the ultrasound signal path  40 .  
         [0026]     Once the correct probe  20  is connected to the ultrasound signal path  40 , the processing unit  40  causes an instructional message to be shown on the display  16  at step  120 . The instruction message not only informs the sonographer that the system  10  is now correctly configured for the examination, but it also may provide some information about how the examination should be conducted. For example, the display  16  may provide the instruction “Scan Probe Along Skinline At A Constant Speed.” The sonographer then conducts the ultrasound examination at step  124 . During this time, the processing unit waits at step  128  to determine when the examination has been completed, which is preferably signaled by the sonographer manipulating an appropriate key or control. The processing unit  50  then outputs the examination results at step  130  by causing the display  16  to display an image and/or cause the report printer  80  to provide a report and/or store the results in the disk drive  60 . The examination results preferably includes text and at least one image, and the content and/or format of the examination results are a function of the protocol code entered at step  104 . The processing unit  50  may also upload the examination results to the clinical information system  70  at step  134 . Again, the content of the uploaded examination results is preferably a function of the protocol code entered at step  104 .  
         [0027]     After the report has been printed at step  130  and data have been uploaded at step  134 , the processing unit checks at step  138  to determine if more than one protocol code was entered at step  104 . If so, the operation returns to step  110  to automatically configure the system for the ultrasound examination for the next protocol code that was entered at step  104 . If there was only one protocol code entered or examinations have been conducted for all entered protocol codes, the process exits at  148 .  
         [0028]     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.