Three-dimensional scan converter for ultrasound imaging
AssigneeSiemens Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorLee Weng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of a three-dimensional scan converter system for generating real-time C-scan and transparent images in addition to two-dimensional B-scan images in an ultrasound imaging system. The present invention has means for ultrasonically scanning a subject to obtain image data, an image memory means for storing the image dam, a two-dimensional scan converter means for converting the stored image data into a three-dimensional cubic data matrix, and a means for displaying the image.
Claims6
A three-dimensional scan converter system for generating real-time orthogonal multiplanar and transparent images in addition to two-dimensional B-scan images in an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
- means for ultrasonically scanning a subject to obtain real-time image data representing an image of said subject, said ultrasonic scanning means further comprises transducers and a three-dimensional position control means having a position encoder for indicating current transducer position;
- image memory means for storing image data representing an image of a subject;
- two-dimensional scan converter means for converting the stored image data into three-dimensionally formatted stored image data in real-time;
- image processing means for operating on said three-dimensionally formatted stored image data for successive display of said multiplanar orthogonal images;
- system software and a CPU, having one or more look-up tables containing scan converter parameters corresponding to said transducer position therein, for downloading said parameters in real-time to said scan converter means;
- a raster processing means for compounding said transparent image;
- and
- display means for displaying said three-dimensional images.
A method for generating real-time orthogonal multiplanar and transparent images in addition to two-dimensional B-scan images in an ultrasound imaging system having transducers, comprising the steps of:
- ultrasonically scanning with equal intervals between scan planes a subject to obtain two-dimensional image data representing an image of said subject;
- storing said two-dimensional image data;
- indicating position of said transducers;
- downloading scan converter parameters corresponding to a position of said transducers from a look-up table into a scan converter;
- performing a first two-dimensional scan conversion on said stored image data in a first direction into raster two-dimensional images with controlled line density;
- storing said resulting first two-dimensionally scan converted image data in said image memory;
- performing a second two-dimensional scan conversion on said stored resulting first two-dimensionally scan converted image data in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction;
- storing said resulting second two-dimensionally scan converted image data in raster cubic format in said image memory;
- displaying stored three-dimensional image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.