Collaborative tool for annotation of synovitis and assessment in ultrasound images

Abstract

We present a cloud based collaborative tool intended for organization and unification of USG data and annotation of features useful for discovery of synovitis. The Annotation Editor can be used to outline anatomical features in an ultrasound images such as joint and bones, and identify regions of synovitis and level of synovitis activity. The software will be used by medical personnel for building reference database of annotated ultrasound images. This database will be the source of training and testing data in a system of automated assessment of synovitis activity. System supports collaborative use and management of the database from multiple locations. Semiquantitative ultrasound is a reliable and widely used method of assessing synovitis. Presently used manual assessment needs trained medical personnel and the result can be affected by a human error. A proposed system that can automatically assess the activity of synovitis would eliminate human dependent discrepancies and reduce time and the cost of evaluation.