3-Dimensional compound ultrasound field of view
AssigneeSiemens Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsBarry H. Friemel, Lee Weng, Tat-Jin Teo
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Abstract
A compounded field of view ultrasound image is derived from correlated frames of ultrasound image data. An operator manually translates an ultrasound probe across a patient target area. Frames of sensed echo signals are processed to detect probe motion without the use of a dedicated position sensor or motion sensor. Motion is detected by correlating the frames for probe translation among as many as 6 degrees of freedom. Image registration then is performed for correlated portions to compound a large ultrasound image. Such image encompasses an area larger than a single field of view image frame for the given manually-scanned transducer probe.
Claims14
A method for generating an ultrasound image of a patient target area encompassing a field of view extended beyond a given transducer array's field of view, comprising the steps of:
- moving the transducer array within any of six degrees of freedom while the transducer array is positioned at a patient in the vicinity of the target area and while the transducer array emits ultrasound signals and receives returning echoes of the emitted ultrasound signals;
- sampling the received echoes within a scan plane at each active transducer element within the transducer array to generate a plurality of frames of echo data for respective positions of the transducer array relative to the patient, a given frame of echo data encompassing a field of view of a first size;
- correlating the plurality of frames of echo data to derive at least one in-plane motion vector component for each one of multiple frames of the plurality of frames;.
- performing data rotation on said multiple frames to derive corresponding multiple intermediate frames in which in-plane motion variation is factored out;
- correlating the multiple intermediate frames to derive at least one out-of-plane motion vector component for each one of the multiple intermediate frames;
- aggregating correlated portions of the multiple intermediate frames using the at least one in-plane motion vector component and the at least one out-of-plane motion vector component of each frame to define a 3-dimensional image encompassing a field of view of a second size, the second size larger than the first size.
An ultrasound diagnostic imaging system for generating an ultrasound image of a patient target area encompassing a field of view extended beyond a given transducer array's field of view, comprising:
- a transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, the transducer array movable within any of six degrees of freedom while positioned at a patient in the vicinity of the target area, the transducer array emitting ultrasound signals and receiving returning echoes of the emitted ultrasound signals;
- a receiver which samples the received echoes within a scan plane at each active transducer element within the transducer array to generate a plurality of frames of echo data for respective positions of the transducer array relative to the patient, a given frame of echo data encompassing a field of view of a first size;
- processing means for:
- correlating the plurality of frames of echo data to derive at least one in-plane motion vector component for each one of multiple frames of the plurality of frames;
- performing data rotation on said multiple frames to derive corresponding multiple intermediate frames in which in-plane motion variation is factored out;
- correlating the multiple intermediate frames to derive at least one out-of-plane motion vector component for each one of the multiple intermediate frames;
- and
- aggregating correlated portions of the multiple intermediate frames using the at least one in-plane motion vector component and the at least one out-of-plane motion vector component of each frame to define a 3-dimensional image encompassing a field of view of a second size, the second size larger than the first size;
- and
- a display device receiving a video signal corresponding to the 3-dimensional image which displays the 3-dimensional image over a field of view encompassing the second size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.