Ultrasound system with artificial neural network for retrieval of imaging parameter settings for recurring patient

Abstract

A system and method for ultrasound imaging may involve the use of an ultrasound probe and a processor coupled to the probe and to a source of previously-acquired ultrasound image data. The processor may be configured to receive patient identification information (e.g., responsive to user input and/or supplemented by additional information such a photo of the patient), to determine whether the patient identification information identifies a recurring patient, and if so, to retrieve, from the source of previously-acquired ultrasound image data, previous ultrasound images associated with the recurring patient. The processor may be further configured to generate a current ultrasound image based on signals received from the prove and to apply a neural network to the current ultrasound image and the previous ultrasound images to identify a matching pair of images, such that imaging settings from the matched previous image may be applied to the system for subsequent imaging.