Methods and systems for extended ultrasound imaging

A method for extended imaging, comprising:

• determining a floating image and a registering image;
• dividing sub-areas from the floating image;
• determining one or more reference points in each sub-area;
• determining searching areas in the registering image for each reference point;
• searching matching points matching with the reference points in the searching areas corresponding to the reference points;
• calculating motion vectors of the reference points relative to the registering image according to the matching points;
• fitting the motion vectors to obtain converting parameters between the floating image and the registering image;
• and
• splicing the floating image and the registering image according to the converting parameters.

A method for ultrasound imaging, comprising:

• transmitting ultrasound waves;
• receiving ultrasound echoes;
• processing the ultrasound echoes to obtain ultrasound images;
• determining a floating image and a registering image;
• dividing sub-areas from the floating image;
• determining one or more reference points in each sub-area;
• determining searching areas in the registering image for the reference points;
• searching matching points matching with the reference points in the searching areas corresponding to the reference points;
• calculating motion vectors of the reference points relative to the registering image according to the matching points;
• fitting the motion vectors to obtain converting parameters between the floating image and the registering image;
• splicing the floating image and the registering image according to the converting parameters;
• and
• displaying the spliced image.

An apparatus for registering images, comprising:

• a floating image and registering image determining unit configured to determine a floating image and a registering image;
• a sub-area dividing sub-unit configured to divide sub-areas from the floating image;
• a reference point determining sub-unit configured to determine one or more reference points in each sub-area;
• a searching area determining sub-unit configured to determine searching areas in the registering image for the reference points;
• a motion vector processing sub-unit configured to search matching points matching with the reference points in the searching areas corresponding to the reference points and calculate motion vectors of the reference points relative to the registering image according to the matching points;
• and
• a motion vector fitting sub-unit configured to fit the motion vectors to obtain converting parameters between the floating image and the registering image.

A system for extended imaging, comprising:

• a floating/registering image determining unit configured to determine a floating image and a registering image;
• a sub-area dividing sub-unit configured to divide sub-areas from the floating image;
• a reference point determining sub-unit configured to determine one or more reference points in each sub-area;
• a searching area determining sub-unit configured to determine searching areas in the registering image for the reference points;
• a motion vector processing sub-unit configured to search matching points matching with the reference points in the searching areas corresponding to the reference points and calculate motion vectors of the reference points relative to the registering image according to the matching points;
• a motion vector fitting sub-unit configured to fit the motion vectors to obtain converting parameters between the floating image and the registering image;
• a splicing unit configured to splice the floating image and the registering image according to the converting parameters;
• and
• an outputting unit configured to output the spliced extended image for displaying.

A system for ultrasound imaging including a probe, a beam former, a signal processor, a DSC module, an extended imaging sub-system, and a display, wherein the extended imaging sub-system comprises:

• a floating/registering image determining unit configured to determine a floating image and a registering image;
• a sub-area dividing sub-unit configured to divide sub-areas from the floating image;
• a reference point determining sub-unit configured to determine one or more reference points in each sub-area;
• a searching area determining sub-unit configured to determine searching areas in the registering image for the reference points;
• a motion vector processing sub-unit configured to search matching points matching with the reference points in the searching areas corresponding to the reference points and calculate motion vectors of the reference points relative to the registering image according to the matching points;
• a motion vector fitting sub-unit configured to fit the motion vectors to obtain converting parameters between the floating image and the registering image;
• a splicing unit configured to splice the floating image and the registering image according to the converting parameters;
• and
• an outputting unit configured to output the spliced extended image for display.