System and method for amplification of features in ultrasound-generated images to compensate for shadow effects
AssigneeThe Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsAndrew A. Berlin, Juergen K. Willmann, Mon Y. Young
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Abstract
This invention provides a system and method for enhancing images acquired by an ultrasound scanner. The system and method employs novel techniques that are compatible with the real-world constraints (i.e. energy levels, duration of exam, geometries involved, etc.) of imaging in mammalian tissue (e.g. tissues of human organs containing lesions/tumors), while providing the dramatically image quality.
Claims20
A method for enhancing images of contrast agent in ultrasound comprising:
- performing imaging of a portion of the body using brightness mode to obtain a brightness mode image;
- performing imaging of the portion of the body after administration of a contrast agent using contrast mode to obtain a contrast mode image;
- identifying one or more shadow areas in a brightness mode image that have low pixel intensity;
- and
- enhancing the visibility of contrast agent within the one or more identified shadow areas.
A method for enhancing images in ultrasound comprising:
- performing imaging of a portion of a body using ultrasound to obtain an ultrasound image;
- identifying one or more areas in the ultrasound image that have low pixel intensity;
- and
- selectively amplifying pixel intensity in the one or more areas in the ultrasound image that have low pixel intensity.
A method for enhancing images of contrast agent in ultrasound comprising:
- performing imaging of the portion of the body after administration of a contrast agent using contrast mode to obtain a contrast mode image;
- performing statistical analysis of one or more multiple-image windows to identify pixel intensity not caused by bound contrast agent;
- and
- subtracting background pixel intensity not caused by bound contrast agent from the contrast mode image to create a background-subtracted contrast mode image.
A method for displaying confidence in areas of a contrast mode ultrasound image comprising;
- performing imaging of a portion of the body using brightness mode to obtain a brightness mode image;
- performing imaging of the portion of the body after administration of a contrast agent using contrast mode to obtain a contrast mode image;
- identifying one or more shadow areas in a brightness mode image that have low pixel intensity;
- and
- labeling in the contrast mode image the identified shadow areas from the brightness mode image as areas with reduced reliability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.