US 5,538,004 A · Method and apparatus for tissue-centered scan conversion in an ultrasound imaging system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging utilize tissue-centered scan conversion to compensate for transducer motion. A reference point, typically located in a region of interest, is selected. An ultrasound probe is positioned at a selected probe position and orientation relative to the region of interest. The region of interest is ultrasonically scanned, and echo signals representative of ultrasound echoes received from the region of interest are generated. The echo signals are referenced to the probe position and orientation. The probe position and orientation relative to the reference point are determined, typically by a sensing device. The echo signals and the probe position and orientation are transformed to image signals for display. The process is repeated for different probe positions and orientations to obtain a plurality of images. Each of the images is referenced to the selected reference point as the probe position and orientation changes, thereby compensating for transducer motion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for ultrasound imaging of a region of interest of a patient, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a real-time ultrasound scanning system including an ultrasound probe;
b) selecting a reference point for imaging;
c) positioning the ultrasound probe at a selected probe position and orientation relative to the region of interest;
d) ultrasonically scanning the region of interest by transmitting an ultrasound beam from said ultrasound probe, automatically steering the ultrasound beam with respect to said ultrasound probe and generating echo signals representative of ultrasound echoes received from the region of interest in response to the transmitted ultrasound beam, said echo signals being referenced to said probe position and orientation;
e) determining said probe position and orientation relative to said reference point;
f) transforming the echo signals and the determined probe position and orientation to image signals representative of an image of the region of interest that is referenced to said selected reference point;
and
g) displaying said image.

5 more elements

Apparatus for ultrasound imaging of a region of interest of a patient, comprising:

a real-time ultrasound scanning system, including an ultrasound probe for ultrasonically scanning the region of interest, when the ultrasound probe is positioned at a selected probe position and orientation relative to the region of interest, by transmitting an ultrasound beam from said ultrasound probe, automatically steering the ultrasound beam with respect to said ultrasound probe and generating echo signals representative of ultrasound echoes received from the region of interest in response to the transmitted ultrasound beam, said echo signals being referenced to said probe position and orientation;
a device for determining said probe position and orientation relative to a selected reference point;
a scan converter responsive to said real-time ultrasound scanning system and said device for transforming the echo signals and the determined probe position and orientation into image signals representative of an image of the region of interest that is referenced to said selected reference point;
and
a display unit responsive to said image signals for displaying said image.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for tissue-centered scan conversion in an ultrasound imaging system

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for tissue-centered scan conversion in an ultrasound imaging system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20