Computer Vision News - March 2021

21 normally have ultrasound training.” The ultrasound videos used in the challenge have been acquired by a single sweep of the ultrasound probe over the maternal abdomen, so will be different from those acquired by experienced sonographers. Until now, this estimation would be performed by a trained sonographer or sonologist who would move the probe over the maternal abdomen and look for what seemed to be the deepest pool depth to take a measurement. If the pool depth is between two and eight centimeters , that is normal, and no further measurement is made. However, if it is less than or higher than that, an amniotic fluid index would be performed to take the deepest pool measurement from the four quadrants in the maternal abdomen and then quantify how much fluid is present. This is a relatively straightforward task for a skilled person to perform in a highly resourced setting, but automating this process means that it could be performed by unskilled or minimally trained operators in more rural settings around the world . This would provide ultrasound technology to women who currently don’t have access toultrasound and would enable healthcare providers in those areas to stratify the risk of a pregnancy. “Every ultrasound technician would have the skills to do this, but what our group is trying to developis something that wouldn’t require an ultrasound technician,” Alice tells us. “It could be performed by a traditional birth attendant, or a community midwife who wouldn’t "… automating this process means that it could be performed by unskilled or minimally trained operators in more rural settings around the world." Automatic Amniotic Fluid Measurement Qingchao Chen