Method and system for correlating exam worksheet values to supporting measurements

A diagnostic system comprising;

• measuring means configured to receive an ultrasound image of a target structure for computing a dimensional measurement value of said target structure from said ultrasound image;
• storage means operatively coupled to said measuring means for storing said dimensional measurement value and said ultrasound image such that said dimensional measurement value and said ultrasound image are independently accessible;
• display means operatively coupled to said storage means for displaying an examination report that includes said dimensional measurement value and said ultrasound image, said examination report having a particular report format in which said dimensional measurement value and said ultrasound image are operatively linked while being independently accessible;
• and
• report generating means operatively coupled to said display means and said storage means for generating said examination report in said particular report format from at least said dimensional measurement and said ultrasound image, said report generating means being configured to automatically save said ultrasound image in said storage means in response to a single control signal to save said dimensional measurement value in said storage means, said report generating means being configured to define said particular report format for displaying said examination report on said display means.

A method of generating an ultrasound examination report comprising steps of:

• forming an ultrasound image of an anatomical feature of a subject;
• measuring a dimensional aspect of said anatomical feature of said subject by examining said ultrasound image to derive a measurement value, said ultrasound image thereby being a corresponding ultrasound image with respect to said measurement value;
• automatically saving said corresponding ultrasound image in response to a saving operation of said measurement value of said anatomical feature, said saving operation of said measurement value being initiated manually, said automatic saving including storing said corresponding ultrasound image separately from said measurement value while forming a permanent link between said measurement value and said corresponding ultrasound image;
• and
• generating said ultrasound examination report utilizing at least one said measurement value, said ultrasound examination report being in a format in which each measurement value is electronically displayed.