# US 11,109,842 B2 · Method and system for enhanced visualization of individual images in a real-time scan

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- Number: US 11,109,842 B2
- Document ID: US11109842B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/565,675
- Filed: 2014-12-10
- Published: 2016-06-16
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-10
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Erwin Fosodeder; Helmut Brandl; David Puehringer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109842B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image}
- G01S 7/52098: {related to workflow protocols}
- G01S 7/52047: {for elimination of side lobes or of grating lobes; for increasing resolving power}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

Various embodiments include a system and method that enhance the visualization of selected individual images from a real-time scan. The method can include acquiring ultrasound image data at an ultrasound system. The method may include processing the acquired ultrasound image data according to cine sequence processing parameters to generate a cine sequence. The cine sequence includes a plurality of frames, each of the frames having a first resolution. The method can include receiving a trigger. The method may include processing the acquired ultrasound image data according to still image processing parameters in response to the trigger to generate a still image. The still image has a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
acquiring ultrasound image data at an ultrasound system;
storing the acquired ultrasound image data in memory;
processing the acquired ultrasound image data, by a processor, according to cine sequence processing parameters to generate a cine sequence comprising a plurality of frames, wherein each of the frames has a first spatial resolution;
navigating, in response to instructions received at a user input module, the cine sequence to one of the plurality of frames;
receiving a trigger at the processor, wherein the received trigger selects the one of the plurality of frames;
retrieving, by the processor, a portion of the acquired ultrasound image data from the memory that corresponds with the one of the plurality of frames selected by the trigger; and
processing the portion of the acquired ultrasound image data, by the processor, according to still image processing parameters in response to the trigger to generate a still image having a second spatial resolution that is higher than the first spatial resolution.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving user input at a user input module identifying the cine sequence processing parameters prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving user input at a user input module identifying one or more of the still image processing parameters and the trigger prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data and receiving the trigger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising processing at least a portion of the still image, by the processor, according to magnifying glass processing parameters to generate a magnified still image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger comprises one or more of:
an automatic trigger configured to activate when the cine sequence is navigated to the one of the plurality of frames by one or more of pausing or stopping the cine sequence at the one of the plurality of frames, and
a user trigger configured to activate based on an input received at a user input module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the cine sequence is one of:
a two-dimensional (2D) real-time motion imaging scan, and
a four-dimensional (4D) imaging scan; and
wherein the still image is one of:
a static two-dimensional (2D) imaging acquisition, and
a static three-dimensional (3D) imaging acquisition.

### Claim 7

A system, comprising:
an ultrasound device operable to acquire ultrasound image data;
a memory configured to store the acquired ultrasound image data;
a processor operable to:
process the acquired ultrasound image data according to cine sequence processing parameters to generate a cine sequence comprising a plurality of frames, wherein each of the frames has a first spatial resolution, and
receive a trigger; and
a user input module configured to receive instructions for navigating the cine sequence to one of the plurality of frames, wherein the received trigger selects the one of the plurality of frames,
wherein the processor is configured to:
retrieve a portion of the acquired ultrasound image data from the memory that corresponds with the one of the plurality of frames selected by the trigger, and
process the portion of the acquired ultrasound image data according to still image processing parameters in response to the received trigger to generate a still image having a second spatial resolution that is higher than the first spatial resolution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, comprising a user input module configured to receive one or more of:
user input identifying the cine sequence processing parameters prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data,
user input identifying one or more of the still image processing parameters and the trigger prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data and receiving the trigger, and
user input provided as the trigger to select one of the plurality of frames of the cine sequence that corresponds with a portion of the acquired ultrasound image data that is processed to generate the still image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to process at least a portion of the still image according to magnifying glass processing parameters to generate a magnified still image.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the trigger comprises one or more of:
an automatic trigger configured to activate when the cine sequence is navigated to the one of the plurality of frames by one or more of pausing or stopping the cine sequence at the one of the plurality of frames, and
a user trigger configured to activate based on an input received at a user input module.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
acquiring ultrasound image data;
storing the acquired ultrasound image data in memory;
processing the acquired ultrasound image data according to cine sequence processing parameters to generate a cine sequence comprising a plurality of frames, each of the frames having a first spatial resolution;
navigating the cine sequence to one of the plurality of frames;
receiving a trigger, wherein the received trigger selects the one of the plurality of frames;
retrieving a portion of the acquired ultrasound image data from the memory that corresponds with the one of the plurality of frames selected by the trigger; and
processing the portion of the acquired ultrasound image data according to still image processing parameters in response to the trigger to generate a still image having a second spatial resolution that is higher than the first spatial resolution.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, comprising receiving one or more of:
user input identifying the cine sequence processing parameters prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data, and
user input identifying one or more of the still image processing parameters and the trigger prior to acquiring the ultrasound image data and receiving the trigger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, comprising processing at least a portion of the still image according to magnifying glass processing parameters to generate a magnified still image.