METHOD FOR SHARING PATIENT PREGNANCY DATA DURING ULTRASOUND

Abstract

A method for sharing patient pregnancy data during ultrasound examination, including: capturing relevant pregnancy data by means of an ultrasound machine by the doctor/sonographer without exam interruption; storing pregnant relevant data captured/collected from the pregnant into a local machine; and transmitting the compressed relevant data sent by the local machine to the cloud service, assigned with a unique patient identification; and allowing access of the smart device to a cloud service assigned with a unique patient identification through a web service.

Claims

1. A method for sharing patient pregnancy data during ultrasound examination comprising: capturing relevant pregnancy data by means of an ultrasound machine by the doctor/sonographer without exam interruption; storing pregnant relevant data captured/collected from the pregnant into a local machine; transmitting the compressed relevant data sent by the local machine to the cloud service, assigned with a unique patient identification; and allowing access of the smart device to a cloud service assigned with a unique patient identification through a web service.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storing pregnant relevant data comprises the compression of the data captured by the local machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises performing upload of complementary data through web service.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the performing the upload comprises establishing conversation, chat, messages and data/information posts through a timeline.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the allowing access to smart devices comprises allowing access to laptops, smartphones, PCS, tablets, smart TVs.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cloud service allows an absent person to remotely follow the examination in real time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become clearer through the following detailed description of an example and non-limitative embodiment together with the attached figures, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 discloses a general view of the traditional method from the prior art to perform ultrasound images.

[0026] FIG. 2 discloses a general view of freely adapted method from the prior art to perform ultrasound images.

[0027] FIG. 3 discloses a flowchart according to a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 4 discloses a general view of an example system which implements a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 5 discloses a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] As mentioned above, the ultrasound exam is considered by many as the opportunity to “meet” the baby. Therefore, many families request the recording of this exam. However, the current methods are not appropriated to readily and easily share the ultrasound exam images (FIG. 1), what in some cases lead people to use their mobile phones to record the ultrasound screen during the exam (FIG. 2), which can result in slower exams (as the doctor has to interrupt the exam so that the patient/companion take a picture or record a video of the ultrasound screen).

[0031] For illustration purposes, FIG. 1 presents the traditional method to perform ultrasound exams and the consumption of this information. The doctor or sonographer 100 performs the exam 101 on the patient. Since the exam is finished, according to request by patient 103, it can be recorded 102 in USB drive, DVD, CD, etc. However, the method 110 of performing ultrasound exams does not provide the social needs of easily sharing the ultrasound images with friends and family.

[0032] FIG. 2 presents the current/traditional method for ultrasound exams, freely adapted to support the sharing of pictures/videos on social networks. The doctor or sonographer 200 starts to perform the exam 201. Nowadays, it is very common the patient to take pictures of the screen machine in order to record and share these pictures with friends and family. When this event does not happen 202, the exams are finished 203 and recorded 204. Because of the necessity to share pictures with friends and family, the exams are interrupted 206 to take pictures 207 and register that moment. When the exam is completely performed, the ultrasound images 203 are stored 204 in a USB, DVD or other media. The patient 205 is used to share the pictures of the exam taken by external device (for example, photographic camera of his smartphone) with friends and social networks.

[0033] FIG. 3 presents a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention for capturing and using ultrasound collectable data and images, in order to solve or mitigate the drawbacks of the existing solutions, as reported on the paragraphs above. The method 310 describes the steps wherein the doctor or sonographer 301 performs the ultrasound exam capturing all relevant data 302 (ultrasound images/videos, room camera data, heart beats from the mother and the baby, etc.), without interrupting the doctor/sonographer 301 during the procedure. During the exam, the local machine (e.g. a computer/laptop) 303 supports the capture and storage of pregnant's relevant data, that will be further pre-processed and compressed to be transmitted to the cloud service 304, in a proper moment (e.g. after the exam completely finishes). The cloud service 304 is used to store the relevant data (pre-processed, compressed and sent by local machine 303) and make it available through a web service. Patient (or any other interested person) can access the cloud service 305 through devices (smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart TVs, etc.) to access the data related to the patient, and then sharing with friends and family and also upload images, videos, etc. 306 complementarily (or not necessarily related) to ultrasound exam.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a general view of the example system which implements the proposed method of the present invention. The system is composed by ultrasound machines 401, which are handled by the doctor/sonographer in order to collect relevant data from exams (according to step 302 of the method of the present invention 310). All data collected by ultrasound machines 401 (and environment sensors, e.g. cameras, microphones, etc.) during the exam is sent 410 to the local machine 402 in order to pre-process, compress and temporarily store relevant all data collected (according to step 303 of the method of the present invention 310). When all data exams are finished and properly pre-processed, the local machine 402 will send 420 all data to the cloud service 403 (according to step 304 of the method of the present invention 310). The cloud service 403 stores, manages, protects/authenticates accesses and makes data available 430 (according to step 305 of the proposed method 310). By using smart devices 404 (like laptops, smartphones, wearable devices, computers, smart TVs, tablets and others with Internet access), the patient (or any other interested person) can retrieve the available data in the cloud service 403, with the possibility to send the data to others users or share with family and friends on social networks. Optionally (if necessary), patient may also include/upload 440 new data/information in the cloud service 403 (according to step 306 of the method of the present invention 310).

[0035] The cloud service 403 allows: invite people to share information/data stored in the cloud, allowing these people “monitor or interact” with the pregnancy through the information/data shared; include new or complementary information/data of the pregnancy; people invited to share information/data of the pregnancy can include new information on the cloud service 403; conversation, chat, messages and data/information posts through a timeline; to follow another pregnancy like “Follower”.

[0036] For a better understanding of the method of the present invention, FIG. 5 presents an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention and its usage/operation. In an exam room 530, the doctor/sonographer 501 performs an ultrasound exam 510 (according to the proposed method 310) extracting data and ultrasound images and videos 502. The exam room 530 is also equipped with a set of devices and sensors (e.g. video camera 503 and a microphone/audio system 504) which can be used to collect environmental data (e.g. images from the pregnant woman and the doctor, sounds/voices, etc.) and allow an absent person 505 (e.g. the father or family members that could not be present on that exam) to remotely follow the exam in real time (e.g. by video conference through the Internet). The collected image/data 502, sounds 504 and videos 503 of the exam are transmitted to the local machine 506, which pre-processes, temporarily stores and compresses all data provided during the ultrasound exam. All data is associated to a unique patient identification (email, social security number, etc.). After the local machine 506 pre-processed, compressed and temporarily stored the data, the data is then transmitted to the cloud service 507 (assigned to the patient identification), which will keep the information stored and safe (with authentication process to make available only the data uniquely associated to a specific patient).

[0037] The procedure to send directly the ultrasound images/videos/sounds 502, 503, 504 to a local machine 506 avoids overloading the ultrasound machine, since the main function of this machine is to provide ultrasound images 502 for exams. The process of sending information from the local machine 506 to cloud service 507 also avoid the local machine overload, since the main function of the local serve machine is just providing the images/data processing to be stored in the cloud.

[0038] Through smart devices 540 (like laptops, smartphones, wearable devices, computers, smart TVs, tablets and others with internet access), the pregnant/patient directly connects to the cloud service 507, using her patient identification (to authenticate herself) and a dedicated application (web service) developed for this purpose, managing all data stored in it.

[0039] The patient can also include external information 550 to the cloud service 507 like: photos, health information (exercises, diet), etc. through her smart device 540 connected to Internet and authenticated to the cloud service 507.

[0040] The patient has the possibility to share all information stored in the cloud service 507 through the dedicated application (web service) with friends 508 or family 509. The process to share information is simple. There is an invite done by the patient to the people that will receive all information. The people invited by the patient can follow, access, add information about the pregnancy with comments and communicate through a timeline (in the same manner as a “social network”).

[0041] Optionally, all data (images, audio/sounds, videos, comments, etc. recorded by the patient and “followers”) stored in the cloud service 507 can be compiled and provide a history (timeline) of all the pregnancy journey.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiment, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Otherwise, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.