System and a method for allowing a non-skilled user to acquire ultrasound images of internal organs of a human body

A system for allowing a non-skilled user to acquire ultrasound images of internal organs of a human body, the system comprising:

• a scanner,
• at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated therewith,
• a user interface comprising a display screen and means to accept user input, and
• a processor containing software, wherein the software is configured to:
• produce ultrasound image data;
• analyze the ultrasound image data;
• display on the display screen only those images which, based on said analysis, contain an anatomical structure or depict a physiological condition;
• instruct the operator to hold the housing of the scanner in a predetermined manner;
• compute the location and attitude of the scanner;
• issue instructions about an amount of pressure to be exerted on the skin based on said analyzing of said ultrasound image data;
• and
• provide instructions for how to move the scanner correctly in order to obtain images with sufficient resolution that an anatomical structure or a phycological condition is discernible,
• wherein
• the processor and software of the system are configured to issue the following instructions to an operator to guide the operator to perform a scan:
• (i) audible or visual instructions to position the scanner at a location that will serve as the center of a patient coordinate system;
• (ii) audible or visual instructions regarding the direction in which to move the scanner over the surface of the patient's body, how far to move the scanner in each direction, the speed with which the scanner should be moved, and the amount of force to be exerted by the scanner against the patient's body;
• and
• (iii) instructions to indicate to the operator that a predetermined number of images have been collected.

A method of conducting an ultrasound examination, the method comprising:

• analyzing, by a processor containing software, ultrasound image data;
• issuing, by the processor, digital instructions via a user interface, said instructions including:
• an amount of pressure to be exerted via a scanner against a patient's body based at least in part on said analyzing;
• a direction in which to move the scanner across a surface of the patient's body;
• how far to move the scanner across the surface of the patient's body;
• and
• a speed with which the scanner should be moved across the surface of the patient's body;
• and
• providing the instructions to an operator for how to operate the scanner.

A system for acquiring ultrasound images of internal organs of a human body, the system comprising:

• a scanner and at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) associated therewith;
• a user interface;
• and
• a processor containing software, wherein the software is configured to:
• analyze ultrasound image data generated by the scanner;
• issue instructions via the user interface, said instructions indicating an amount of pressure to be exerted on a patient's body via the scanner based on said analyzing and a speed with which to move the scanner across a surface of the patient's body;
• and
• provide the instructions to an operator for how to operate the scanner.