Echocardiogram unit for mechanical assist devices

Abstract

An ultrasound scanning unit for assessing an implanted device within a body part includes a structural reference identifier and a structural reference measurer. The structural reference identifier receives one or more ultrasound images of a heart. From the images, it identifies and locates an anatomical structural reference, such as an aortic annulus, and a device structural reference, such as an inlet of a mechanical assist device. The structural reference measurer calculates a spatial relationship, like a distance, between the identified references to provide a positional assessment of the implanted device. The unit can also include a navigator to generate orientation instructions for guiding a user in positioning an ultrasound probe. A mal-rotation detector determines if the device has an incorrect rotational orientation, and a safe zone generator creates a map of safe and unsafe positions. A pressure-volume loop determiner also generates a pressure-volume loop to assess myocardial contractility.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.