Ultrasonic monitoring system and method
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorZvi M. Friedman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for use in a diagnostic ultrasound system are disclosed. A display device has a first window for displaying live ultrasound images and a second window for displaying a reference cine image. The reference cine image is an image captured prior to the currently displayed live ultrasound images. The images of the first and second windows are synchronized by ECG gating. The apparatus and methods may be employed to image the heart, providing operators with a way to monitor the heart and detect subtle changes in heart condition from the time that a reference image was captured.
Claims28
A diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:
- an ultrasound probe;
- a processor for receiving data from said ultrasound probe to form display signals associated with a live ultrasound image and a reference cine image,
- an apparatus for displaying a plurality of images comprising:
- a single display device having a first window for displaying said live ultrasound image and a second window for displaying said reference cine image;
- wherein the images displayed in the first and second windows are synchronized by ECG gating to the ECG of said live ultrasound image.
In a diagnostic ultrasound system, an apparatus for displaying a plurality of images of the heart comprising:
- a single display device having a first window for displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart, a second window for displaying a reference cine image of a first view of the heart, and a third window for displaying a reference cine image of a second view of the heart;
- wherein the images displayed in the first, second, and third windows are synchronized by ECG gating.
In a diagnostic ultrasound system, an apparatus for displaying a plurality of images of the heart comprising:
- a single display device having a first window for displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart and a second window for displaying a reference cine image of the heart;
- wherein the images displayed in the first and second windows are synchronized by ECG gating;
- wherein the reference cine image is captured and re-captured at a predetermined interval;
- and
- wherein the display device displays at least one of an amount of time that has elapsed since capture of the reference cine image and an amount of time that has elapsed since initiating administration of anesthesia.
In a diagnostic ultrasound system, an apparatus for displaying a plurality of images of the heart comprising:
- a single display device having a first window for displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart, a second window for displaying a reference cine image of a first view of the heart, and a third window for displaying a reference cine image of a second view of the heart;
- wherein the images displayed in the first, second, and third windows are synchronized by ECG gating;
- and
- wherein at least one of the reference cine images is continuously updated so that the at least one reference cine image lags behind the live ultrasound image by a pre-determined amount of time.
A method for displaying a plurality of images in a diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising:
- displaying a live ultrasound image on a monitor;
- simultaneously displaying a reference cine image on the monitor;
- and
- synchronizing, by ECG gating, the live ultrasound image and the reference cine image.
A method for displaying a plurality of images of the heart in a diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising:
- displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart on a monitor;
- simultaneously displaying a first reference cine image of the heart on the monitor;
- simultaneously displaying a second reference cine image of the heart on the monitor;
- and
- synchronizing, by ECG gating, the live ultrasound image and the first and second reference cine images;
- wherein a view of the heart displayed in the first reference cine image is different from a view of the heart displayed in the second reference cine image.
A method for displaying a plurality of images of the heart in a diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising:
- displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart on a monitor;
- capturing and re-capturing a reference cine image of the heart at a predetermined interval;
- simultaneously displaying the reference cine image of the heart on the monitor;
- displaying an amount of time that has elapsed since capture of the reference cine image;
- and
- synchronizing, by ECG gating, the live ultrasound image and the reference cine image.
A method, for displaying a plurality of images of the heart in a diagnostic ultrasound system, the method comprising:
- displaying a live ultrasound image of the heart on a monitor;
- simultaneously displaying a first reference cine image of the heart on the monitor;
- simultaneously displaying a second reference cine image of the heart on the monitor, wherein a view of the heart displayed in the first reference cine image is different from a view of the heart displayed in the second reference cine image;
- synchronizing, by ECG gating, the live ultrasound image and the first and second reference cine images;
- and
- continuously updating at least one of the first and second reference cine images so that the at least one reference cine image lags behind the live ultrasound image by a pre-determined amount of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.