Systems and methods for ultrasound-based medical device assessment

A method for conveying information from an ultrasound imaging system relating to insertion of a medical device into a patient body, the method comprising:

• depicting an ultrasonic image of at least one target location within the patient body on a display, the ultrasonic image obtained from a probe that remains external to the patient body;
• causing a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, prior to insertion of the medical device into the patient body, to process data to determine a depth of the at least one target location in the patient body, and to process data, including the depth of the at least one target location, to determine an internal length of the medical device that will be disposed within the patient body after the at least one target location when the medical device is inserted into the patient body;
• and
• displaying the depth of the at least one target location and the internal length of the medical device on the display with the ultrasonic image, the depth of the at least one target location correlated with the ultrasonic image.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium including computer executable code that, when executed, causes a processor to process data to perform the following in relation to insertion of a medical device into a patient body:

• depict on a display of an ultrasound imaging system an ultrasonic image of at least one target location within the patient body, the ultrasonic image obtained from a probe that remains external to the patient body;
• determine, prior to insertion of the medical device into the patient body, a depth of the at least one target location in the patient body;
• determine an internal length of the medical device that will be disposed within the patient body after the at least one target location when the medical device is inserted into the patient body;
• and
• display the depth of the at least one target location and the internal length of the medical device on the display with the ultrasonic image, the depth of the at least one target location correlated with the ultrasonic image.

A method of using an ultrasound imaging system in inserting a catheter into a vessel of a patient, the method comprising:

• inputting into the ultrasound imaging system an overall length of the catheter to be inserted into the vessel;
• ultrasonically imaging for depiction on a display the vessel with a probe of the ultrasound imaging device, the probe remaining external to the patient;
• observing information provided by the ultrasound imaging system prior to catheter insertion, the information including an insertion length of a distal portion of the catheter that would be entirely disposed within the vessel after catheter insertion;
• and
• inserting the catheter into the vessel such that the insertion length of the distal portion is entirely disposed within the vessel.