A multi-media product is created from fetal ultrasound images, during scanning of a fetus using an ultrasound scanner, and employs a specifically trained artificial intelligence (AI) model to execute on a computing device communicably connected to an ultrasound scanner, wherein the AI model is trained so that when the AI model is deployed, the computing device identifies and selects one or more fetal anatomical features, in whole or part, imaged in fetal ultrasound imaging data generated during ultrasound scanning as part of a clinical exam of the fetus, wherein the selected one or more fetal anatomical features are visually appealing for entertainment and keepsake purposes and are not part of a clinical assessment of the health or growth of the fetus and wherein after acquiring a new fetal ultrasound image during ultrasound scanning, the AI model selects the one or more fetal anatomical features, in whole or part, which are visually appealing for entertainment and keepsake purposes and are not part of a clinical assessment of the health or growth of the fetus and those selected non-clinical images are then used to generate the entertainment focused multi-media product.

According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe and processing circuitry. The ultrasonic probe is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire an optical image of a subject housed in a housing unit containing a medium. The processing circuitry is configured to estimate state information of the subject from the optical image. The processing circuitry is configured to set a scan condition of ultrasonic scanning for the subject based on the state information.

A temporal change at each coordinate of interest which is spatially fixed in frame data of a plurality of time phases obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasound is made understandable. A trace processor derives an amount of temporal change at each coordinate of interest of a plurality of coordinates of interest which are spatially fixed in the frame data over a plurality of time phases. The trace processor also derives an amount of spatial movement of each site of interest based on the amount of temporal change of each coordinate of interest near each site of interest. Further, the trace processor derives an amount of spatial movement of each site of interest for each time phase over a plurality of time phases in a trace period, and traces a motion of each site of interest in the trace period based on the amount of movement derived for each time phase.

A computer-implemented method for visualization of an elongated anatomical structure (20), for example of a fetal spine using ultrasound is provided. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of 3D ultrasound image volumes, each image volume depicting at least a portion of an elongated anatomical structure (20); on each 3D ultrasound image volume, automatically or semi-automatically fitting a parametric curve (30) to the depicted portion of the elongated anatomical structure, the parametric curve being defined by curve parameters; reformatting each 3D ultrasound image volume by applying a transformation which straightens the parametric curve along at least one axis, so as to generate a plurality of reformatted image volumes and reformatted parametric curves (32, 34); registering the reformatted image volumes with one another by determining the joining point of their respective parametric curves; and fusing the reformatted image volumes with one another to yield a fused image depicting the whole elongated anatomical structure or a larger portion thereof than the 3D ultrasound image volumes.

The invention provides a method for deriving a biometric parameter of a fetal heart. The method includes acquiring a plurality of ultrasound images of a region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises a fetal heart and comparing the plurality of ultrasound images to a predefined clinical view. A group of ultrasound images related to the predefined clinical view are selected based on the comparison, wherein the group of ultrasound images represents at least one cardiac cycle. An anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected within an ultrasound image of the group of ultrasound images and the anatomical landmark of the fetal heart is detected or tracked across the group of ultrasound images. A biometric parameter of the fetal heart is then determined based on the detected or tracked anatomical landmark from one or more ultrasound images of the group of ultrasound images.

An ultrasound imaging system comprises a display for displaying a received ultrasound image. A user interface is provided for receiving user commands for controlling the ultrasound imaging process, and it receives a user input which identifies a point or region of the displayed ultrasound image. An image depth is determined which is associated with the identified point or region and the imaging process is controlled to tailor the imaging to the identified point or region.

Transvaginal and/or transcervical fetal oximetry probes may be configured to take measurements in the endocervical canal of a pregnant mammal that may be used to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level using, for example, oximetry, pulse oximetry, and/or tissue oxygen saturation calculations. Transurethral fetal oximetry probes may be configured to be inserted into a urethra of a pregnant mammal and be positioned proximate to a wall of a bladder of the pregnant mammal proximate to the fetus. Once in position, the Transurethral fetal oximetry probe may take measurements that may be used to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level using, for example, oximetry, pulse oximetry, and/or tissue oxygen saturation calculations.

A system for robot-assisted ultrasound scanning comprises a multi axis robot with an end effector, a transducer holding element for connecting an ultrasound transducer to the end effector, a user input arrangement having at least three separate proportional inputs representing desired ultrasound transducer displacement along X, Y and Z axes of an orthogonal coordinate system defining the ultrasound transducer motion, and a controller which is connected to the user input arrangement and which controls the end effector based on input. The controller acquires a 3D model of a surface to be scanned and is arranged to continuously update the orthogonal coordinate system defining the ultrasound transducer motion as the ultrasound transducer moves, the X, Y and Z axes are arranged as described. In this way, the operator can easily move the transducer along the surface of the area to be scanned.

An ultrasound system includes: an ultrasound device having a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers; and a smartphone or tablet in operative communication with the ultrasound device. The ultrasound system is configured to: collect multiple sets of ultrasound data from multiple regions within the subject; detect fetal heartbeat signals and uterine contraction signals; monitor a fetal heartbeat signal among the fetal heartbeat signals by automatically steering an ultrasound beam to a first region among the multiple regions within the subject to collect first further ultrasound data from the first region based on a quality of the fetal heartbeat signal; and monitor a uterine contraction signal among the uterine contraction signals by automatically steering the ultrasound beam to a second region among the multiple regions within the subject to collect second further ultrasound data from the second region based on a quality of the uterine contraction signal.

A sensor network for pregnancy monitoring of a subject includes a plurality of sensor systems time-synchronized to each other, each sensor system placed on a respective region of the subject and having a sensor member configured to detect data associated with at least one of physiological parameters of the subject, and a Bluetooth low energy system-on-a-chip configured to process and transmit the detected data; and a controller adapted in wireless communication with the plurality of sensor systems and configured to receive, from the plurality of sensor systems, to process, and to display the physiological parameters.