US 12,239,482 B2
Automated needle entry detection
Edward J. Patton, Bothell, WA (US); and Tong Li, Bothell, WA (US)
Assigned to FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc., Bothell, WA (US)
Filed by FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc., Bothell, WA (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/431,256.
Application 18/431,256 is a continuation of application No. 16/210,253, filed on Dec. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,896,424.
Prior Publication US 2024/0197286 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/0841 (2013.01) [A61B 5/7267 (2013.01); A61B 8/463 (2013.01); A61B 8/54 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound imaging system comprising an image processor, wherein the ultrasound imaging system is configured to:
capture a first set of ultrasound image frames of a target region;
capture a second set of ultrasound image frames of the target region, wherein:
the second set of ultrasound image frames is captured by the ultrasound imaging system subsequent to the first set of ultrasound image frames;
at least one of the second set of ultrasound image frames is taken at a first side having a positive steer angle, wherein the positive steer angle is determined relative to a zero angle where a transmit beam of the ultrasound imaging system is perpendicular to an ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound imaging system; and
at least another one of the second set of ultrasound image frames is taken from a second side having a negative steer angle relative to the zero angle;
determine whether an interventional instrument is present in the target region based on at least the second set of ultrasound image frames;
in response to determining that an interventional instrument is present, determine a side corresponding to a direction of entry of the interventional instrument depicted by an image frame, the side determined to be the first side or the second side; and
in response to determining the side, create a composite tissue frame depicting a tissue of the target region and the interventional instrument based on at least the first set of ultrasound image frames and a third set of ultrasound image frames taken from a first steer angle on the determined side.