The Lung Protocol can be used with the Auto B-line Counter tool to help label the lung zones being scanned by the
user. To turn on the Lung Protocol, click on “Lung Protocol” located above the blue “Count” button. Please refer to
the “Using Protocols” section for more information on how to use the Lung Protocol.
User Tool Tips
Auto B-line Counter tool tips provide informational tabs with brief, static, standardized information on proper probe
placement and how to use the tool. First time users of the Auto B-line Counter are automatically presented with tool
tips when they select “B-line Count” from the Actions menu within the Lung preset. Tool tips can be accessed by any
Auto B-line Counter user at any time by selecting the ? on the bottom right hand side of the screen when in the tool.
Accuracy and Limitations of Auto B-line Counter
The Auto B-line Counter uses deep learning algorithms that were trained on thousands of cines from hundreds of
sites across the United States. The following inclusion and exclusion criteria filters were applied when selecting and
curating datasets for development and clinical validation.
• Only images taken with the standard Lung preset were used.
• Only clinically relevant cines of 8 cm or greater depth were used.
• Studies with pleural effusion were excluded from the dataset.
The Auto B-line Counter uses the Instant Percent method
4
to calculate the greatest number of B-lines in an
intercostal space at any instant within a captured cine. The Instant Percent Method counts the number of B-lines in a
rib space using the following method:
• Discrete B-lines are counted as 1.
• Confluent B-lines are counted as the percentage of the rib space filled with confluent B-lines divided by 10. For
example if 40% of the rib space is filled then the count will be 4.
• The B-line count at any instant/frame is the confluent B-lines and discrete B-lines added together.
4
Anderson et al, “Inter-rater reliability of quantifying pleural B-lines using multiple counting methods,” J. Ultrasound Med. 2013; 32:115–120
Butterfly Auto B-line Counter
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