# US 2018/0021022 A1 · Ultrasound imaging apparatus with image selector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021022 A1 - Document ID: US20180021022A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/214,838 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc. - Applicants: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Lundberg; Gina Kelly; Kerem Karadayi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021022A1 ## CPC - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/14: Echotomography - A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 8/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest} - A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image} - G01S 7/52034: {Data rate converters} - G01S 7/52085: {Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences (control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54)} - G06F 18/22: Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures - G06T 1/60: Memory management - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - G16H 15/00: ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof - G16H 30/20: for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - A61B 2017/3413: {guided by ultrasound} - G01S 7/52098: {related to workflow protocols} - G06T 2207/10132: Ultrasound image - G06T 2207/30004: Biomedical image processing - G06V 2201/031: of internal organs - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract An ultrasound imaging system includes a cine buffer in which image frames produced during an examination are stored. A processor is programmed to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator for approval and inclusion in a patient record or other report. The operator can accept the proposed image frames or can select one or more other image frames from the cine buffer. The processor may select image frames at spaced intervals in the cine buffer for presentation. Alternatively, the processor compares image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames. Image frames that are similar to the target image frames are presented to the operator to confirm. Alternatively, image frames can be selected by the processor that contain a specific feature or that are similar to image frames that were previously selected by the operator when performing a particular type of examination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ultrasound imaging system comprising: a transducer that is configured to transmit ultrasound signals to and receive ultrasound signals from a region of interest; receive circuitry that is configured to convert the received ultrasound signals into image frames of ultrasound data for display to a user; a display for displaying the image frames of ultrasound data; a cine buffer in which image frames of ultrasound data produced during an examination are stored; and a processor that is configured to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator and to receive confirmation from the operator whether to mark one or more of the selected image frames for inclusion in a patient record or other report. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to select image frames for presentation that are stored at equal intervals in the cine buffer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores one or more target image frames that are associated with particular examination types and wherein the image processor is configured to compare image frames that are stored in the cine buffer to one or more target images associated with a type of examination being performed by an operator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to receive a selection of an image frame by an operator and to display image frames that were recorded in the cine buffer before and/or after the selected image frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to analyze image frames in the cine buffer and select for presentation one or more image frames that differ from an image frame that was stored before the selected image frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to compare image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames that the operator has previously selected when performing a type of examination and to select one or more image frames for presentation that match the target image frames. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to analyze the image frames stored in the cine buffer for the presence of a defined feature and to present one or more image frames that contain the defined feature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein the defined feature is an anatomical feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein the defined feature is a surgical instrument. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein the defined feature is a needle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein the defined feature is a drug being delivered around a target location. ### Claim 12 A ultrasound imaging system comprising: a transducer that is configured to transmit ultrasound signals to and receive ultrasound signals from a region of interest; receive circuitry that is configured to convert the received ultrasound signals into image frames of ultrasound data for display to a user; a display for displaying the image frames of ultrasound data; a cine buffer in which image frames of ultrasound data produced during an examination are stored; and a processor that is configured to receive an indication of a type of examination being performed by an operator; recall one or more target image frames associated with the type of examination performed by the operator; and compare image frames in the cine buffer to the one or more target image frames and select one or more of the image frames in the cine buffer for presentation to an operator based on the comparison with one or more target image frames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ultrasound imaging system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to receive an approval from an operator of a presented image frame and to mark the approved image frames for inclusion into a patient record or other report.