Method and apparatus for displaying 3D ultrasound data using three modes of operation

A system for imaging of an object volume, comprising:

• an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from said object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in a scan plane;
• means coupled to said ultrasound transducer array for acquiring a data volume derived from ultrasound echoes reflected a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume, said data volume comprising a multiplicity of voxels having respective coordinates;
• means for enabling selection of an orientation of said data volume for three-dimensional imaging;
• means for generating imaging data representing a three-dimensional projection of said data volume having said orientation onto an imaging plane by applying a projection transformation to said data volume, wherein said projection transformation comprises applying a scaling matrix and a rotation matrix to said coordinates of said voxels to produce coordinates of pixels in said imaging plane and applying a projection technique to said voxels for each pixel in said imaging plane;
• a display monitor;
• and
• a video processor for displaying said three-dimensional projection on said display monitor.

A method for imaging an object volume, comprising the steps of:

• scanning an ultrasound scanner across an object;
• operating the ultrasound scanner to transmit ultrasound beams and detect ultrasound echoes reflected from a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• acquiring a data volume derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from said multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• selecting an orientation of said data volume for three-dimensional imaging in a first mode;
• generating first imaging data representing a three-dimensional projection of said data volume having said orientation onto an imaging plane by applying a projection transformation to said data volume;
• generating first graphical data indicative of said definition and said orientation of said data volume;
• and
• concurrently displaying said three-dimensional projection and said graphical data in said first mode.