Minicomputer-based system for obstetric ultrasound analysis, with multi-user and networking capability.

A computer-assisted approach to the dating of gestation and the evaluation of fetal growth by ultrasonography that relies on a computer-based information management system of a general hospital is described. The system processes, stores, retrieves, and compares ultrasound data, and a report can be generated by the ultrasonographer while the patient is still on the examining table. A major feature is that the system can be accessed by any authorized user from any terminal within the hospital where obstetric ultrasound examinations are performed and from off-site physicians' offices. The large memory capacity, the networking among several data bases, and the statistical manipulation capabilities of the system make it ideal for clinical research.