Methods and systems for tracking a motion of a probe in an ultrasound system

A computer program comprising computer program code means which is adapted, when said computer program is run on a computer, to implement the steps of:

• obtaining ultrasound data acquired from an imaging region by way of an ultrasound probe, wherein the ultrasound data comprises Doppler ultrasound data;
• obtaining a first image of a surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of an image sensor coupled to the ultrasound probe;
• obtaining a second image of the surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of the image sensor;
• comparing the first image and the second image;
• computing a first motion component of the ultrasound probe based on the comparison;
• obtaining a second motion component of the ultrasound probe acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of an inertial measurement unit coupled to the image sensor;
• combining the first motion component and the second motion component, thereby generating a motion of the ultrasound probe;
• combining the ultrasound data from the imaging region and the motion of the ultrasound probe, thereby generating a tracked imaging region;
• generating a 3D Doppler vessel map based on the Doppler ultrasound data and the motion of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• deriving a blood flow measure from the 3D Doppler vessel map, wherein deriving the blood flow measure comprises one or more of:
• calculating an angle between an imaging region of the ultrasound probe and the central axis of a vessel based on the motion of the ultrasound probe and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated angle;
• and
• calculating a cross sectional area of a vessel based on the 3D Doppler vessel map and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated cross sectional area.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

• obtaining ultrasound data acquired from an imaging regions by way of an ultrasound probe, wherein the ultrasound data comprises Doppler ultrasound data;
• obtaining a first image of a surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of an image sensor coupled to the ultrasound probe;
• obtaining a second image of the surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of the image sensor;
• comparing the first image and the second image;
• computing a first motion component of the ultrasound probe based on the comparison;
• obtaining a second motion component of the ultrasound probe acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of an inertial measurement unit coupled to the image sensor;
• combining the first motion component and the second motion component, thereby generating a motion of the ultrasound probe;
• combining the ultrasound data from the imaging region and the motion of the ultrasound probe, thereby generating a tracked imaging region;
• generating a 3D Doppler vessel map based on the Doppler ultrasound data and the motion of the ultrasound probe;
• and
• deriving a blood flow measure from the 3D Doppler vessel map, wherein deriving the blood flow measure comprises one or more of:
• calculating an angle between an imaging region of the ultrasound probe and the central axis of a vessel based on the motion of the ultrasound probe and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated angle;
• and
• calculating a cross sectional area of a vessel based on the 3D Doppler vessel map and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated cross sectional area.

A processing system for use in an ultrasound system and for generating a tracked imaging region representing ultrasound data acquired from an imaging region, the processing system comprising:

• an input to receive a (i) ultrasound data acquired from an imaging regions by way of an ultrasound probe, wherein the ultrasound data comprises Doppler ultrasound data, (ii) a first image of a surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of an image sensor coupled to the ultrasound probe, and (iii) a second image of the surface acquired during the acquisition of the ultrasound data by way of the image sensor;
• and
• a processor coupled to the input to:
• compare the first image and the second image;
• compute a first motion component of the ultrasound probe based on the comparison;
• combine the first motion component and the second motion component, thereby generating a motion of the ultrasound probe;
• combine the ultrasound data from the imaging region and the motion of the ultrasound probe, thereby generating a tracked imaging region;
• derive a blood flow measure from the 3D Doppler vessel map, wherein deriving the blood flow measure comprises one or more of:
• calculate an angle between an imaging region of the ultrasound probe and the central axis of a vessel based on the motion of the ultrasound probe and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated angle;
• and
• calculate a cross sectional area of a vessel based on the 3D Doppler vessel map and adjusting the Doppler ultrasound data based on the calculated cross sectional area.