US 10,646,196 B2 · Systems and methods for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed

Abstract

The present embodiments relate generally to systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed. A plurality of ultrasound images can first be acquired. For each ultrasound image of the plurality of ultrasound images, the image can be divided into a plurality of regions; where each region is positioned so that the region corresponds to a substantially similar region location present across the plurality of ultrasound images. For each region location on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, a statistical calculation on image data of the region location can be performed. For each region location, a frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images can then be determined. The region location having a dominant determined frequency of change in the statistical calculation (over the plurality of ultrasound images) can be identified as a region of interest (ROI). The heart rate can be calculated based on the determined frequency of change of the ROI.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed, the method comprising:

acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images;
for each ultrasound image of the plurality of ultrasound images, dividing the image into a plurality of regions, wherein each region is positioned so that the region corresponds to a region location present across the plurality of ultrasound images;
for each region location on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, performing a statistical calculation on image data of the region location;
for each region location, determining a frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images;
determining the region location having a dominant determined frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images;
identifying a selected region location having the dominant determined frequency as a region of interest (ROI);
and
calculating the heart rate based on the determined frequency of change of the ROI.

5 more elements

An ultrasound imaging apparatus for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor is configured to:
acquire a plurality of ultrasound images;
for each ultrasound image of the plurality of ultrasound images, divide the image into a plurality of regions, wherein each region is positioned so that the region corresponds to a region location present across the plurality of ultrasound images;
for each region location on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, perform a statistical calculation on image data of the region location;
for each region location, determine a frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images;
determine the region location having a dominant determined frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images;
identify a selected region location having the dominant determined frequency as a region of interest (ROI);
and
calculate the heart rate based on the determined frequency of change of the ROI.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20