Method and systems for periodic imaging

A system, comprising:

• an ultrasound probe;
• a display;
• and
• a processor configured with instructions in non-transitory memory that when executed cause the processor to:
• during periodic imaging sessions carried out according to a resuscitation protocol comprising compressions with breaks for reassessment where the ultrasound probe is operated to scan a heart of a patient:
• acquire, with the ultrasound probe, a first cine loop of an imaging subject during a first imaging period;
• during a non-imaging period following the first imaging period, display the first cine loop at a main display area of the display at a first frame rate;
• detect initiation of a second imaging period, and in response, move display of the first cine loop from the main display area to a first display area of the display;
• upon the first cine loop being moved to the first display area, display the first cine loop at a second, different frame rate;
• acquire, with the ultrasound probe, a second cine loop of the imaging subject during the second imaging period following the first imaging period;
• display a countdown timer on the display that presents acquired images;
• count down the countdown timer to show time remaining until compressions are to be applied, including counting down to zero;
• initiate count-down automatically once the system detects that imaging has started;
• once the countdown timer reaches zero, automatically display a most recently acquired cine loop;
• and
• when the system detects that a user is no longer imaging the patient, automatically display the most recently acquired cine loop;
• and
• simultaneously display the first cine loop at the first display area of the display and the second cine loop at a second display area of the display.

A method, comprising:

• during periodic imaging sessions carried out according to a resuscitation protocol comprising compressions with breaks for reassessment where an ultrasound probe is operated to scan a patient heart of an imaging subject:
• progressively acquiring a plurality of cine loops of the imaging subject over a periodic imaging session;
• simultaneously displaying each cine loop at a respective separate display area of a display, including displaying acquired images of each cine loop as that cine loop is acquired, displaying each cine loop in a main display area of the display at a first frame rate during a non-imaging period following acquisition of that cine loop, and maintaining display of each previously acquired cine loop in a first display area of the display at a second, different frame rate;
• display a countdown timer on the display that presents acquired images;
• count down the countdown timer to show time remaining until compressions are to be applied, including counting down to zero;
• initiate count-down automatically in response to detecting that imaging has started;
• and
• once the countdown timer reaches zero, automatically display a most recently acquired cine loop.