A three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) is established with a high degree of accuracy, by a simple method without increasing a burden on the operator, in generating a three-dimensional projected image from medical volume data according to rendering, achieving more efficient interpretation of three-dimensional image and streamlining of diagnostic flow, with the use of the diagnostic image generation apparatus. An energy map is generated on a predetermined tomographic plane, assuming a preset start point as a reference and searching for a path that minimizes the energy, and then the path is set as a boundary of the three-dimensional ROI. The start point may be decided on the basis of the boundary inputted by a user, or the user may set the start point. The user may be allowed to adjust the boundary having been set. The boundary may also be determined on another plane orthogonal to the predetermined tomographic plane.

An ultrasonography generation device includes an ultrasonic wave transceiver (1002), a user inputter (1006) which inputs input by an operator, a monitor (1011) capable of displaying an image, an image processor (1005) which generates tomographic image data of a fetus and the placenta based on signals acquired from the ultrasonic wave transceiver and sets a region of interest including a region between the fetus and the placenta according to the input from the inputter when the tomographic image data is displayed on the display, a 3D-ROI corrector (1008) which corrects the region of interest using the region of interest set by the operator and the tomographic image data and determines validity of the corrected region of interest, and a presentation part (1012) which presents the determination result from 3D-ROI corrector. The ultrasonography generation device generates a 3D image of the fetus using the corrected region of interest.

A tracking processing unit performs tracking processing for a plurality of states during a tracking period and, on the basis of a plurality of tracking results obtained from the tracking processing for the plurality of states, tracks the movement of a measurement point during the tracking period. In addition, with regard to a plurality of tracking points that comprise the measurement point and an auxiliary point, the tracking processing unit performs tracking processing for each tracking point during the tracking period and, on the basis of a plurality of tracking results obtained from the plurality of tracking points, tracks the movement of the measurement point during the tracking period.

Systems and methods of predicting future medical events are based on the processing of medical image. The prediction of premature birth and estimation of gestational age based on ultrasound images are presented as illustrative examples. The new abilities to estimate the probability of future medical events, before they otherwise could be predicted, provides new avenues for the development of preventative treatments.

A processing unit and method are provided for processing fetal Doppler ultrasound data to extract a set of signals representative of different distinct heart rate signal sources, i.e. maternal heart rate and fetal heart rate. Doppler data is received corresponding to a plurality of different depth zones (16a, 16b, 16c) in the fetal region and, these processed into a set of input channels, each corresponding to a different depth. These are then processed successively by a PCA algorithm followed by an ICA algorithm, which work to unmix the multiple heart rate sources present in each of the input channels, and derive a set of output signals from the ICA which can be taken as representative of separate heart rate sources.

A processing unit and method for processing fetal Doppler ultrasound data to extract a set of signals representative of different distinct heart rate signal sources, i.e. maternal heart rate and fetal heart rate. Doppler data is received (32) from a plurality of different transducer sources, corresponding to different (but potentially overlapping) tissue regions within the maternal abdomen. From the multiple sources of Doppler ultrasound data is compiled (34) a single set of input signal channels, each corresponding to a different tissue region within the maternal abdomen. These are then processed successively by a PCA algorithm (36) followed by an ICA algorithm (38), which work to unmix the multiple heart rate sources present in each of the input channels, and derive a set of output signals from the ICA which can be taken as representative of separate heart rate sources.

A method for analyzing an ultrasound image in the first trimester of pregnancy includes: acquiring an ultrasound image in the first trimester of pregnancy; and acquiring at least one of characteristics of uterus, fetus, placenta, gestational sac, and egg yolk related to the acquired ultrasound image, and determining a group pertinent to the acquired ultrasound image among a plurality of predesignated groups based on the acquired characteristic and the acquired ultrasound image, using an ultrasound image analysis device that has learned in a machine learning technique.

Techniques for determining fetal situs during an ultrasound imaging procedure are disclosed. The techniques can include obtaining an ultrasound image of a fetus in utero. The fetus will include a torso and a spine and the ultrasound image can comprise a circumferential view of the torso of the fetus. The circumferential view can include at least: (i) an outer border of the torso, and (ii) the spine that includes three landmarks arranged in a triangular orientation. The techniques can further include superimposing a fetal overlay based on an alignment instruction corresponding to an alignment between the outer border of the torso and the three landmarks to obtain an augmented reality image of the fetus. The fetal overlay can include a graphical element indicating a left side and a right side of the fetus. The augmented reality image of the fetus can be output on a display of the ultrasound machine.

A guiding system and a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation are provided. The guiding system includes a handheld guiding device, a display device, an ultrasound scanning device, a prompting device, and a control host. When the handheld guiding device generates a first physical motion, the control host detects the first physical motion and generates navigation prompting information accordingly. The prompting device is suitable for presenting the navigation prompting information to guide the ultrasound scanning device to move to generate a second physical motion. The control host captures an ultrasound image via the ultrasound scanning device and sends the ultrasound image to the display device at a guiding end for display.

The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system, the system comprising a fetal monitoring transducer (20) arranged to detect fetal medical condition information; and a control device (48) comprising a motion assessment unit (50) and a signal output unit (52); wherein the fetal monitoring transducer (20) is arranged to detect fetal movement indicative information, wherein the motion assessment unit (50) is arranged to process fetal movement grading information, in addition to the fetal movement indicative information, wherein the signal output unit (52) is arranged to simultaneously output a fetal condition signal, particularly a fetal heart rate signal, and an augmented fetal movement signal based on the fetal movement indicative information and the fetal movement grading information, wherein a characteristic property of the original fetal movement information is still present in the augmented fetal movement signal. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding pregnancy monitoring method.