Apparatus and method for fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography

Abstract

Described is an apparatus and method for fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE). Use of this apparatus and method allows for visualization of standard fetal echocardiography views from dataset volumes obtained with spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) and application of intelligent navigation technology. An imaging system includes a processor that executes an instruction set that causes the computing system to perform operations comprising: obtaining dataset volumes of a heart, placing markers within the dataset, and generating selected images of the heart based on the markers in the dataset. The imaging system also includes a memory for storing the images, and a display for displaying the images. The imaging system further includes a port communicatively coupled to a network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging method comprising:
 obtaining a dataset volume of a fetal heart using spatio-temporal image correlation in an ultrasound imaging mode;   marking a plurality of anatomical points of the heart within the obtained dataset; and   generating a plurality of diagnostic images of the heart from the marked anatomical points of the heart of the obtained dataset.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging method of  claim 1  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart includes marking at least a plurality of the following anatomical points of the heart:
 an aorta point in a cross-section of the aorta at level of stomach; 
 an aorta point in cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart; 
 a crux point in a view of the cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart; 
 a line through the ventricular septum, the crux point, and terminating at the right atrial wall of the heart; 
 a pulmonary valve point substantially in the middle of the pulmonary valve of the heart; 
 a superior vena cava point substantially in the middle of the superior vena cava of the heart; and 
 a transverse aortic arch point. 
 
     
     
         4 . The imaging method of  claim 1  further comprising marking at least one line corresponding to anatomical portions of the heart. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging method of  claim 1  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart includes marking the following anatomical portions of the heart:
 an aorta point in a cross-section of the aorta at level of stomach; 
 an aorta point in cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart; 
 a crux point in a view of the cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart; 
 a line through the ventricular septum, the crux point, and terminating at the right atrial wall of the heart; 
 a pulmonary valve point substantially in the middle of the pulmonary valve of the heart; 
 a superior vena cava point substantially in the middle of the superior vena cava of the heart; and 
 a transverse aortic arch point. 
 
     
     
         6 . The imaging method of  claim 5  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart further comprises:
 presenting a sample view of a sample heart with a marked anatomical portion; 
 presenting a similar view of the heart from the obtained data set; and 
 prompting a response for marking the heart from the obtained data set. 
 
     
     
         7 . The imaging method of  claim 6  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart further comprises labeling an anatomical point in response to receiving a response for marking the heart. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging method of  claim 5  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart further comprises:
 presenting a plurality of sample views of a sample heart marked at an anatomical portion; 
 presenting a plurality of unmarked views of the heart from the obtained data set that correspond to the plurality of sample views; 
 prompting a response for marking the plurality of unmarked views of the heart from the obtained data set; and 
 generating the plurality of diagnostic images of the heart from a plurality of marks received as responses. 
 
     
     
         9 . The imaging method of  claim 8  wherein marking the plurality of the anatomical points of the heart further comprises labeling an anatomical point in response to receiving a response for marking the unmarked view of the heart. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging method of  claim 8  wherein a marked view of the heart from the obtained data set is reoriented upon detecting a fetal heart from a baby in a breech presentation. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting at least one of the generated diagnostic views by changing the angle of at least one of the generated diagnostic views. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting at least one of the generated diagnostic views by shifting the diagnostic view to a parallel plane within the dataset volume. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging method of  claim 1  wherein generating a plurality of diagnostic images of the heart from the marked anatomical points of the heart from the obtained dataset includes using information from at least two of the marked anatomical points in a decision tree to determine the plane of diagnostic image. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging method of  claim 1  wherein generating a plurality of diagnostic images of the heart from the marked anatomical points of the heart from the obtained dataset includes displaying the plurality of diagnostic images on a computer display. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging method of  claim 1  wherein generating a plurality of diagnostic images of the heart includes at least a plurality of the following echocardiography views:
 a four-chamber view; 
 a five-chamber view; 
 a left ventricular outflow tract view; 
 a short axis view of great vessels/right ventricular outflow tract view; 
 a three-vessels and trachea view; 
 an abdomen/stomach view; 
 a ductal arch view; 
 an aortic arch view; or 
 a superior and inferior vena cava view. 
 
     
     
         16 . A machine readable medium that includes an instruction set, the instruction set, when executed by a machine, causing a machine to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining a dataset volume of a fetal heart using spatio-temporal image correlation in an ultrasound imaging mode;   marking a plurality of anatomical points of the heart within the obtained dataset; and   generating a plurality of diagnostic images of the heart from the marked anatomical points of the heart from the obtained dataset.   
     
     
         17 . The machine readable medium that includes an instruction set of  claim 16 , wherein the instruction set, when executed by a machine, causes a machine to perform operations to mark at least two of the following anatomical portions of the heart:
 an aorta point in a cross-section of the aorta at level of stomach;   an aorta point in cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart;   a crux point in a view of the cross-section of the aorta at level of the four chamber view of the heart;   a line through the ventricular septum, the crux point, and terminating at the right atrial wall of the heart;   a pulmonary valve point substantially in the middle of the pulmonary valve of the heart;   a superior vena cava point substantially in the middle of the superior vena cava of the heart; and   a transverse aortic arch point.   
     
     
         18 . The machine readable medium that includes an instruction set of  claim 16 , wherein the instruction set, when executed by a machine, causes a machine to perform operations to mark portions of the heart that includes:
 presenting a sample view of a sample heart with a marked anatomical portion;   presenting a similar view of the heart from the obtained data set; and   prompting a response for marking the heart from the obtained data set.   
     
     
         19 . The machine readable medium that includes an instruction set of  claim 16 , wherein the instruction set, when executed by a machine, causes a machine to perform operations to substantially immediately generate at least a plurality of the following fetal echocardiography views:
 a four-chamber view;   a five-chamber view;   a left ventricular outflow tract view;   a short axis view of great vessels/right ventricular outflow tract view;   a three-vessels and trachea view;   an abdomen/stomach view;   a ductal arch view;   an aortic arch view; or   a superior and inferior vena cava view.   
     
     
         20 . An imaging system that comprises:
 a processor that executes an instruction set that causes the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 obtaining dataset volumes of a fetal heart; 
 placing markers within the dataset; and 
 generating selected images of the heart based on the markers in the dataset; 
   a memory for storing the images; and   a display for displaying the images.   
     
     
         21 . The imaging system of  claim 20  further comprising a port communicatively coupled to a network.