Patent Description:
Ultrasound scanning technology may be applied to fetal examinations and examinations of human organs such as the heart. Generally speaking, the ultrasound scanning device must be operated by professionals such as doctors or examiners to perform ultrasound scanning of the body of a patient on site. However, in the application of telemedicine, doctors cannot contact the patient on site and also cannot operate the ultrasound scanning device on site, which makes it difficult to obtain ultrasound images of the remote patient. <CIT> discloses a shared-housing ultrasound transducer and machine-vision camera system for registering the transducer's position in space and pitch, yaw, and roll orientation with respect to an object, such as a patient's body. The position and orientation are correlated with transducer scan data, and scans of the same region of the object are compared in order to reduce ultrasound artifacts and speckles. <CIT> discloses an apparatus and method allowing a trainer to guide remote trainees in telemedicine and other fields in which a human assistant provides benefits over a robot assistant or when using teleguidance for training or rehabilitation of humans. <CIT> discloses an apparatus and method for providing remote expert feedback to an operator of an ultrasound imaging machine. The remote feedback consists of graphical icons that are dragged and dropped onto a video stream of the patient being scanned or the ultrasound image being captured and shared in real-time with the local operator to help improve their scanning technique. <CIT> discloses techniques for guiding an operator to use an ultrasound device.

The invention is defined in the independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

The disclosure provides a guiding system and a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation, which can improve capturing efficiency of an ultrasound image in telemedicine.

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation, which includes a handheld guiding device, a display device, an ultrasound scanning device, a prompting device, and a control host. The handheld guiding device is located at a guiding end. The display device is located at the guiding end. The ultrasound scanning device is located at an operating end. The prompting device is located at the operating end. The control host is communicatively connected to the guiding end and the operating end. When the handheld guiding device generates a first physical motion, the control host detects the first physical motion and generates navigation prompting information accordingly. The prompting device is suitable for presenting the navigation prompting information to guide the ultrasound scanning device to move to generate a second physical motion. The control host captures an ultrasound image via the ultrasound scanning device and sends the ultrasound image to the display device at the guiding end for display. The handheld guiding device further comprises a main body and a soft material layer, disposed on the main body. The main body sends a first inertial measurement signal to the control host according to the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device, and the first physical motion contains the main body pressing the soft material layer to cause the soft material layer to be deformed.

The embodiment of the disclosure also provides a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation, which is executed by using the above guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation. The guiding method includes the following steps. The first physical motion of the handheld guiding device is detected. The navigation prompting information is generated according to the first physical motion, and the navigation prompting information is presented via the prompting device. The ultrasound image is captured via the ultrasound scanning device. The ultrasound image is sent to the display device for display.

Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below to further describe the disclosure in details.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. A guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation <NUM> includes a handheld guiding device <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, an ultrasound scanning device <NUM>, a control host <NUM>, and a prompting device <NUM>. The handheld guiding device <NUM> and the display device <NUM> are located at a guiding end. The ultrasound scanning device <NUM> and the prompting device <NUM> are located at an operating end. The control host <NUM> may be communicatively connected to the guiding end and the operating end.

The handheld guiding device <NUM> may be operated by a user to generate a first physical motion. The first physical motion is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move. In an embodiment, the handheld guiding device <NUM> includes a handheld control device such as a stylus pen or an electronic control stick. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the handheld guiding device <NUM> may include a handheld ultrasound scanner.

The display device <NUM> is suitable for displaying an image. For example, the display device <NUM> may include a display or a display device containing a display such as a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a television. The handheld guiding device <NUM> and the display device <NUM> may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the control host <NUM> to communicate with the control host <NUM>.

The ultrasound scanning device <NUM> is suitable for executing ultrasound scanning on a target <NUM>. The target <NUM> is, for example, a human body. In an embodiment, the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may include a handheld ultrasound scanner. In addition, the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the control host <NUM> to communicate with the control host <NUM>.

The control host <NUM> is suitable for sending information between the guiding end and the operating end and may execute functions such as data processing. For example, the control host <NUM> may include a computer device such as a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, an industrial computer, or a server. In addition, the number of the handheld guiding device <NUM>, the display device <NUM>, the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>, and the control host <NUM> are not limited and may be one or more.

The prompting device <NUM> is suitable for presenting navigation prompting information from the control host <NUM> to guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move. In <FIG>, the prompting device <NUM> is exemplified by a display. However, in another embodiment, the prompting device <NUM> may also include various signal or information output devices such as a sound-emitting device (such as a speaker or a buzzer) and/or a vibration device (such as a vibrator). The prompting device <NUM> may be independent of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> or disposed on the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. In addition, the prompting device <NUM> may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the control host <NUM> to communicate with the control host <NUM>.

When the handheld guiding device <NUM> generates the first physical motion, the control host <NUM> may detect the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device <NUM> located at the guiding end. In an embodiment, the first physical motion may include a motion executed in a physical space by the handheld guiding device <NUM> operated by a user, such as moving toward a certain direction, tilting toward a certain direction, and/or pressing toward a certain direction. The control host <NUM> may generate navigation prompting information <NUM> according to the first physical motion to be presented via the prompting device <NUM> located at the operating end. In an embodiment, the navigation prompting information <NUM> may guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> located at the operating end to execute a second physical motion correspondingly according to the first physical motion. During a process of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> executing the second physical motion, the control host <NUM> may capture an ultrasound image <NUM> via the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. In an embodiment, the ultrasound image <NUM> may be obtained by the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> executing the second physical motion to perform ultrasound scanning on the target <NUM>. The control host <NUM> may send the ultrasound image <NUM> to the display device <NUM> located at the guiding end for display.

In an embodiment, the user operating the handheld guiding device <NUM> at the guiding end is also referred to as an instructor, such as a doctor or an examiner who has been professionally trained in ultrasound scanning. In an embodiment, the user who operates the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> at the operating end is also referred to as an operator, such as medical staff or ordinary people who may not be professionally trained in ultrasound scanning.

In an embodiment, the instructor at the guiding end may view the ultrasound image <NUM> returned by the operating end via the display device <NUM>. At the same time, the instructor may operate the handheld guiding device <NUM> to execute the first physical motion to guide the operator at the operating end to operate the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to execute the second physical motion. In another embodiment, the instructor at the guiding end may first view environmental information provided by the operating end via the display device <NUM> to know the location of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. In detail, the instructor at the guiding end may first provide a feature point for the operator at the operating end to first place the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> as a starting point for scanning. Taking the target <NUM> as a human abdomen as an example, when performing abdominal ultrasound scanning, the feature point may be set as a belly button of a human body. The operator at the operating end may place the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> at the location of the belly button, which is the feature point. Then, the instructor at the guiding end may view the environmental information of the location of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> via the display device <NUM>, thereby evaluating an operating direction of the first physical motion. During operation, the instructor uses the handheld guiding device <NUM> to execute the first physical motion to guide the operator to correspondingly execute the second physical motion. Through such interactive guiding operation, even if the operator at the operating end is not familiar with the usage manner of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>, the operator at the operating end may still capture a suitable ultrasound image from the target <NUM> according to the guidance of the instructor.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a control host according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. The control host <NUM> may include a communication interface <NUM>, a storage circuit <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. The communication interface <NUM> may include a communication circuit (such as a wired and/or wireless network card). For example, the communication interface <NUM> may support wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or long-term evolution (LTE), or wired communication protocols such as Ethernet.

The storage circuit <NUM> is suitable for storing data. For example, the storage circuit <NUM> may include a volatile storage circuit and a non-volatile storage circuit. The volatile storage circuit is suitable for volatile storage of data. For example, the volatile storage circuit may include a random access memory (RAM) or similar volatile storage media. The non-volatile storage circuit is suitable for non-volatile storage of data. For example, the non-volatile storage circuit may include a read only memory (ROM), a solid state disk (SSD), and/or traditional hard disk drive (HDD), or similar non-volatile storage media.

The processor <NUM> is coupled to the communication interface <NUM> and the storage circuit <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is suitable for being responsible for the overall or partial operation of the control host <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may include a central processing unit (CPU), other programmable general-purpose or specific-purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable controllers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), other similar devices, or a combination of these devices.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a handheld guiding device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. The handheld guiding device <NUM> may include a communication interface <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. The communication interface <NUM> may include a communication circuit (such as a wired and/or wireless network card). For example, the communication interface <NUM> may support wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, or LTE, or wired communication protocols such as Ethernet.

The sensor <NUM> is disposed in the handheld guiding device <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is suitable for sensing the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device <NUM> and generating a first inertial measurement signal. In an embodiment, the first inertial measurement signal may reflect a moving direction, a tilting direction, a tilting angle, a pressing depth, and other measurement values related to the motion of the handheld guiding device <NUM> in the physical space when the handheld guiding device <NUM> executes the first physical motion. Therefore, in an embodiment, the sensor <NUM> may include various sensors that may generate inertial measurement signals, such as a gravity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, and/or a gyroscope. In addition, the number of the sensor <NUM> may be one or more, which is not limited thereto.

The processor <NUM> is coupled to the communication interface <NUM> and the sensor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is suitable for being responsible for the overall or partial operation of the handheld guiding device <NUM>, such as sending the first inertial measurement signal to the control host <NUM> through the communication interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a CPU, other programmable general-purpose or specific-purpose microprocessors, DSPs, programmable controllers, ASICs, PLDs, other similar devices, or a combination of these devices.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of an ultrasound scanning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. The ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may include a communication interface <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, an ultrasound probe <NUM>, an image generation module <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. The communication interface <NUM> may include a communication circuit containing a wired and/or wireless network card. For example, the communication interface <NUM> may support wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, or LTE, or wired communication protocols such as Ethernet.

The sensor <NUM> is disposed in the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is suitable for sensing the second physical motion of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> and generating a second inertial measurement signal. In an embodiment, the second inertial measurement signal may reflect a moving direction, a tilting direction, a tilting angle, a pressing depth, and other measurement values related to the motion of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> in the physical space when the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> executes the second physical motion. Therefore, in an embodiment, the sensor <NUM> may include various sensors that may generate inertial measurement signals, such as a gravity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, and/or a gyroscope. In addition, the number of the sensor <NUM> may be one or more, which is not limited thereto.

The ultrasound probe <NUM> is suitable for emitting an ultrasound signal to the contacted target <NUM> and receiving the ultrasound signal reflected by the target <NUM>. The ultrasound signal reflected by the target <NUM> may carry internal structural information of the target <NUM>.

The image generation module <NUM> is coupled to the ultrasound probe <NUM> and is suitable for generating the ultrasound image <NUM> according to the ultrasound signal reflected by the target <NUM>. The ultrasound image <NUM> may reflect an internal structure of the target <NUM>. The image generation module <NUM> may be implemented as software or hardware, which is not limited by the disclosure.

The processor <NUM> is coupled to the communication interface <NUM>, the sensor <NUM>, the ultrasound probe <NUM>, and the image generation module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is suitable for the overall or partial operation of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>, such as sending the second inertial measurement signal and the ultrasound image <NUM> to the control host <NUM> through the communication interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a CPU, other programmable general-purpose or specific-purpose microprocessors, DSPs, programmable controllers, ASICs, PLDs, other similar devices, or a combination of these devices.

In an embodiment, the sensor <NUM> of the handheld guiding device <NUM> may generate the first inertial measurement signal according to the first physical motion. The processor <NUM> of the handheld guiding device <NUM> may send the first inertial measurement signal to the control host <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may receive the first inertial measurement signal via the communication interface <NUM> and analyze the first inertial measurement signal to obtain information related to the first physical motion. Based on the information, the processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may generate the navigation prompting information <NUM> and send the navigation prompting information <NUM> to the prompting device <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM> for presentation.

In an embodiment, the navigation prompting information <NUM> may reflect a moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM>. For example, the moving trajectory may include at least one of the moving direction, the tilting direction, the tilting angle, and the pressing depth of the handheld guiding device <NUM>. The operator at the operating end may operate the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> according to the navigation prompting information <NUM> to execute physical motions such as moving, tilting, and pressing along the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may include an optical emitter <NUM> and a main body <NUM>. The optical emitter <NUM> may be disposed on the main body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In an embodiment, the communication interface <NUM>, the sensor <NUM>, the ultrasound probe <NUM>, and the image generation module <NUM> of <FIG> may be disposed in the main body <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the control host <NUM> may send the navigation prompting information <NUM> to the processor <NUM> of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may control the optical emitter <NUM> to emit a light ray <NUM> according to the navigation prompting information <NUM> to guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move. The light ray <NUM> includes visible light and is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move. In an embodiment, the processor <NUM> may control the light ray <NUM> emitted by the optical emitter <NUM> to be directed toward a target direction according to the navigation prompting information <NUM> to guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move toward the target direction. In an embodiment, the light ray <NUM> and/or a light point formed by the light ray <NUM> irradiating on a certain object (such as the target <NUM>) may also be regarded as partial information of the navigation prompting information <NUM>. For example, the light ray <NUM> may project the moving trajectory guiding the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> on the target <NUM> according to the moving trajectory of the first physical motion, so that the operator of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may generate the second physical motion according to the guidance of the light ray <NUM>. In addition, the main body <NUM> is suitable for providing the user of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to operate to capture the ultrasound image <NUM> and send the ultrasound image <NUM> to the control host <NUM>.

The prompting device <NUM> is suitable for presenting the navigation prompting information <NUM>. The navigation prompt information <NUM> is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to execute the second physical motion according to the first physical motion. It should be noted that the prompting device <NUM> may contain one or more devices of the same or different types, and these devices may be disposed on the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> or independent of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>, which is not limited by the disclosure. In an embodiment, the optical emitter <NUM> may be one of the prompting devices <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the prompting device <NUM> and the optical emitter <NUM> may co-exist in the guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation <NUM> to collaboratively operate. For example, in a situation where the prompting device <NUM> and the optical emitter <NUM> co-exist in the guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation <NUM>, the optical emitter <NUM> may emit the light ray <NUM> to guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to move. At the same time, the prompting device <NUM> may present at least part of the navigation prompting information <NUM>, such as the moving trajectory or a moving directional index, to collaboratively guide the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. In another embodiment, the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may not have the optical emitter <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the control host <NUM> may detect the second physical motion of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM> of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may generate the second inertial measurement signal according to the second physical motion. The processor <NUM> of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> may send the second inertial measurement signal to the control host <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may receive the second inertial measurement signal via the communication interface <NUM> and analyze the second inertial measurement signal to obtain information related to the second physical motion.

In an embodiment, the control host <NUM> may compare the first physical motion and the second physical motion to obtain a difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion. The difference may be reflected in the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM> when executing the first physical motion and the moving trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> when executing the second physical motion. In detail, the handheld guiding device <NUM> generates the first inertial measurement signal according to the first physical motion and sends the first inertial measurement signal to the control host <NUM>. The ultrasound scanning device <NUM> generates the second inertial measurement signal according to the second physical motion and sends the second inertial measurement signal to the control host <NUM>. Therefore, the control host <NUM> may judge whether the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meets a warning condition according to the first inertial measurement signal and the second inertial measurement signal. In response to the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meeting the warning condition, the control host <NUM> may instruct the prompting device <NUM> to output warning information. In addition, if the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion does not meet the warning condition, it means that the difference is within an allowable operating error range. The control host <NUM> may not instruct the prompting device <NUM> to output the warning information.

In an embodiment, the processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may compare the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM> when executing the first physical motion and the motion trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> when executing the second physical motion. In response to the difference between the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM> when executing the first physical motion and the moving trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> when executing the second physical motion exceeding an allowable value, the processor <NUM> may judge whether the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meets the warning information and send a command message to the prompting device <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>. According to the command message, the prompting device <NUM> may output the warning information.

In an embodiment, the warning information may be presented on a display screen of the display via the prompting device <NUM>. In an embodiment, the warning information may be conveyed via the sound-emitting device (such as the speaker or the buzzer) outputting a warning sound and/or the vibrating device (such as the vibrator) vibrating in the prompting device <NUM>. For example, the sound-emitting device and/or the vibrating device may be disposed on the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> or independent of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the control host <NUM> may store the ultrasound image <NUM> captured by the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. For example, the ultrasound image <NUM> may be stored in the storage circuit <NUM> of the control host <NUM>. However, in an embodiment, in response to the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meeting the warning condition (such as the difference between the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM> when executing the first physical motion and the moving trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> when executing the second physical motion exceeding the allowable value), the control host <NUM> may discard the storage of the current ultrasound image <NUM> from the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. For example, when it is judged that the ultrasound image <NUM> may be discarded, the processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may not store the ultrasound image <NUM> in the storage circuit <NUM> or delete the ultrasound image <NUM> from the storage circuit <NUM>. In this way, when the moving trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> deviates too far from a preset trajectory (that is, the moving trajectory of the handheld guiding device <NUM>), useless ultrasound images <NUM> occupying the storage space of the storage circuit <NUM> may be prevented from being continuously stored.

In an embodiment, in response to the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meeting the warning condition, the control host <NUM> may instruct the prompting device <NUM> to present navigation correction information. The navigation correction information is suitable for correcting the moving trajectory of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>. For example, the navigation correction information may be presented on a screen displayed by the display of the prompting device <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> of the control host <NUM> may send a command message to the prompting device <NUM> via the communication interface <NUM>. According to the command message, the prompting device <NUM> may output the navigation correction information.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of navigation correction information according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. In an embodiment, navigation correction information <NUM> may be presented on a screen displayed by the prompting device <NUM>. The navigation correction information <NUM> may contain directional indexes <NUM> to <NUM> directed toward different directions. In an embodiment, one of the directional indexes <NUM> to <NUM> (such as the directional index <NUM>) may change the visual effect (such as color change, magnification, or flicker) to clearly inform the operator of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> that the current moving direction of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> needs to move toward a specific direction (such as the direction directed by the directional index <NUM>) to prevent the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> from continuously moving toward the wrong direction.

In an embodiment, the navigation correction information may also be presented via the light ray <NUM>. For example, color or brightness features such as color, brightness, and flicker frequency of the light ray <NUM> may be changed according to the navigation correction information to warn the operator of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> that the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> must move toward a specific direction or change the moving direction of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an appearance of a handheld guiding device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. According to the invention, a handheld guiding device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a soft material layer <NUM>. The soft material layer <NUM> is disposed on the main body <NUM>. It should be noted that the soft material layer <NUM> is implemented with a soft or elastic material (such as silicone). In addition, the main body <NUM> may be the same or similar to the handheld guiding device <NUM> of <FIG>.

In an embodiment, when the operator of the handheld guiding device <NUM> operates the handheld guiding device <NUM> to execute the first physical motion to press the soft material layer <NUM> through the main body <NUM> to deform the soft material layer <NUM>, the main body <NUM> sends the first inertial measurement signal generated by a sensor inside the main body <NUM> to the control host <NUM> according to the first physical motion. In this way, the control host <NUM> may obtain the moving trajectory (such as a distance, a depth, or a tilting angle of pressing toward the soft material layer <NUM>) of the handheld guiding device <NUM> when executing the first physical motion according to the first inertial measurement signal and generate the corresponding navigation prompting information <NUM>. Then, the control host <NUM> may use the navigation prompting information <NUM> to guide the operator of the ultrasound scanning device <NUM> to execute a similar second physical motion such as pressing or tilting.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>, which is executed by using the guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation <NUM>. In Step S701, the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device is detected. In Step S702, the navigation prompting information is generated according to the first physical motion, and the navigation prompting information is presented via the prompting device. The navigation prompting information is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device to execute the second physical motion according to the first physical motion. In Step S703, the ultrasound image is captured via the ultrasound scanning device. In Step S704, the ultrasound image is sent to the display device for display.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Please refer to <FIG>. In Step S801, the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device is detected. In Step S802, the navigation prompting information is generated according to the first physical motion, and the navigation prompting information is presented via the prompting device. The navigation prompting information is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device to execute the second physical motion according to the first physical motion. In Step S803, the ultrasound image is captured via the ultrasound scanning device. In Step S804, the ultrasound image is sent to the display device for display. After executing the second physical motion, Step S805 is simultaneously performed with Step S803. In Step S805, the second physical motion of the ultrasound scanning device is detected. In Step S806, it is judged whether the difference between the first physical motion and the second physical motion meets the warning condition. If yes, in Step S807, the warning information is output via the prompting device. If not, return to Step S805. In addition, in an embodiment, Step S807 may also include discarding the currently captured ultrasound image when the warning condition is met.

However, each step in <FIG> and <FIG> has been described in detail as above and will not be repeated here. It is worth noting that each step in <FIG> and <FIG> may be implemented as multiple program codes or circuits, which is not limited by the disclosure. In addition, the methods of <FIG> and <FIG> may be used in conjunction with the above exemplary embodiments or may be used alone, which is not limited by the disclosure.

Based on the above, after detecting the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device, the navigation prompting information may be generated according to the first physical motion and presented via the prompting device. The navigation prompting information is suitable for guiding the ultrasound scanning device to execute the second physical motion according to the first physical motion. The ultrasound scanning device may continuously capture ultrasound images and send the captured ultrasound images to the display device for display. In this way, capturing efficiency of the ultrasound image in telemedicine can be improved.

In summary, through the interactive guiding operation between the handheld guiding device and the display device at the guiding end and the ultrasound scanning device and the prompting device at the operating end, even if the operator at the operating end is not familiar with the ultrasound scanning device, the operator at the operating end may still capture a suitable ultrasound image from the target according to the guidance of the instructor. In this way, capturing efficiency of the ultrasound image in telemedicine can be improved.

Claim 1:
A guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation (<NUM>), the guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation (<NUM>) comprising:
a handheld guiding device (<NUM>, <NUM>), located at a guiding end;
a display device (<NUM>), located at the guiding end;
an ultrasound scanning device (<NUM>), located at an operating end;
a prompting device (<NUM>), located at the operating end; and
a control host (<NUM>), communicatively connected between the guiding end and the operating end, wherein
when the handheld guiding device (<NUM>, <NUM>) generates a first physical motion, the control host (<NUM>) detects the first physical motion and generates navigation prompting information accordingly, the prompting device (<NUM>) is suitable for presenting the navigation prompting information (<NUM>) to guide the ultrasound scanning device (<NUM>) to move to generate a second physical motion, and the control host (<NUM>) captures an ultrasound image (<NUM>) via the ultrasound scanning device (<NUM>) and sends the ultrasound image (<NUM>) to the display device (<NUM>) at the guiding end for display, the guiding system for ultrasound scanning operation (<NUM>) being characterized in that the handheld guiding device (<NUM>, <NUM>) further comprises:
a main body (<NUM>) and
a soft material layer (<NUM>), disposed on the main body (<NUM>), wherein
the main body is configured to send a first inertial measurement signal to the control host (<NUM>) according to the first physical motion of the handheld guiding device (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the first physical motion contains the moving trajectory of the main body (<NUM>) pressing the soft material layer (<NUM>) to cause the soft material layer (<NUM>) to be deformed.