System and method for automated monitoring of fetal head descent during labor

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to automatically:
• obtain one or more transperineal ultrasound images corresponding to a birth canal of a patient in labor such that the one or more transperineal ultrasound images comprise at least two structures of interest;
• segment each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images into a plurality of neighborhood components;
• determine a cost function corresponding to each neighborhood component in the plurality of neighborhood components in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images;
• identify the least two structures of interest in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images based on the cost function, wherein the at least two structures of interest comprise a pubic ramus and a fetal head;
• measure an angle of progression between a first line passing through the pubic ramus and a second line extending from an inferior apex of the pubic ramus and tangentially intersecting a contour of the fetal skull;
• determine fetal head descent in the region of interest in the object of interest based on the angle of progression;
• and
• visualize the one or more transperineal ultrasound images, the pubic ramus, the fetal head, a tangent point on the fetal head, the angle of progression, the fetal head descent, or combinations thereof on a display, wherein at least the angle of progression is overlaid on the one or more transperineal ultrasound images.

A computer-readable non-transitory media storing computer executable code to perform the method of:

• acquiring one or more transperineal ultrasound images corresponding to a birth canal of a patient in labor such that the one or more transperineal ultrasound images comprise at least two structures of interest;
• segment each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images into a plurality of neighborhood components;
• determine a cost function corresponding to each neighborhood component in the plurality of neighborhood components in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images;
• identify the at least two structures of interest in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images based on the cost function, wherein the at least two structures of interest comprise a pubic ramus and a fetal head;
• measure an angle of progression between a first line passing through the pubic ramus and a second line extending from an inferior apex of the pubic ramus and tangentially intersecting a contour of the fetal skull;
• determine fetal head descent in the birth canal based on the angle of progression;
• and
• visualize the one or more transperineal ultrasound images, the pubic ramus, the fetal head, a tangent point on the fetal head, the angle of progression, the fetal head descent, or combinations thereof on a display, wherein at least the angle of progression is overlaid on the one or more transperineal ultrasound images,
• wherein the steps of acquiring the one or more transperineal ultrasound images, segmenting each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images, determining the cost function, identifying the at least two structures of interest, measuring the angle of progression, determining the fetal head descent, and visualizing are automated steps.

An imaging system, the system comprising:

• an ultrasound imaging system configured to obtain one or more transperineal ultrasound images corresponding to a birth canal of a patient in labor such that the one or more transperineal ultrasound images comprise at least two structures of interest;
• at least one processor in operative association with the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to automatically:
• segment each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images into a plurality of neighborhood components;
• determine a cost function corresponding to each neighborhood component in the plurality of neighborhood components in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images;
• identify the at least two structures of interest in each of the one or more transperineal ultrasound images based on the cost function, wherein the at least two structures of interest comprise a pubic ramus and a fetal head;
• measure an angle of progression between a first line passing through the pubic ramus and a second line extending from an inferior apex of the pubic ramus and tangentially intersecting a contour of the fetal skull;
• determine fetal head descent in the birth canal based on the angle of progression;
• and
• visualize the one or more transperineal ultrasound images, the pubic ramus, the fetal head, a tangent point on the fetal head, the angle of progression, the fetal head descent, or combinations thereof on a display, wherein at least the angle of progression is overlaid on the one or more transperineal ultrasound images.