Ultrasound guidance method and system

Abstract

A method and system is for assisting a user in positioning an ultrasound probe relative to a subject's body. In use, the user moves the probe through a series of positions, and ultrasound image data is captured for each position, the data at each position corresponding to a particular imaging view of the anatomical region being imaged. An assessment procedure () is operable to process ultrasound data for different imaging views, and to determine for the data for each view a rating, representative of the suitability of the data for that view for observing one or more anatomical features or deriving one or more clinical parameters from the data. Guidance feedback is generated () for the user for assisting the user in positioning the probe, wherein the guidance feedback is based on a history () of image view quality over time over the course of the imaging procedure. For example, a trend in image view quality over time may be determined and output to a user, from which the user can quickly tell whether they are moving toward (in the case of increasing quality) or away from (decreasing quality) an optimum imaging position.