Method and apparatus for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of biopsy needle

A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume having a specular ultrasound reflector inserted therein, comprising:

• an ultrasound linear transducer array comprising a multiplicity of transducer elements;
• means for controlling said ultrasound linear transducer array to transmit ultrasound beams in first and second steered directions, said second steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquisition means coupled to said ultrasound transducer array for acquiring first acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said first steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume and for acquiring second acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said second steered direction and reflected from each one of said multiplicity of scan planes;
• means for storing said first and second acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• operator interface means for receiving operator inputs;
• means for defining a data volume of said first and second acoustic data based on operator inputs;
• first mode means responsive to operator inputs for enabling selection in a first mode of an orientation of said data volume relative to an imaging plane;
• means for generating first imaging data representing a first projection onto said imaging plane by applying a first projection transformation to said first acoustic data in said data volume;
• means for generating second imaging data representing a second projection onto said imaging plane by applying a second projection transformation to said second acoustic data in said data volume;
• a display monitor comprising an array of pixels;
• first mapping means for mapping said first imaging data into a first image frame of pixel intensity values;
• second mapping means for mapping said second imaging data into a second image frame of pixel intensity values;
• and
• a video processor for concurrently displaying said first and second image frames on said display monitor in said first mode.

A method for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising the steps of:

• scanning an ultrasound linear transducer array across said object volume;
• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during said scanning to transmit ultrasound beams in a steered direction, said steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• storing acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume from said acoustic data;
• orienting said data volume relative to an imaging plane;
• generating first imaging data representing a three-dimensional projection onto said imaging plane by applying a projection transformation to said data volume;
• and
• displaying a first image frame which is a function of said first imaging data.

A method for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising the steps of:

• scanning an ultrasound linear transducer array across said object volume;
• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during said scanning to transmit ultrasound beams in first and second steered directions, said second steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring first acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said first steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• acquiring second acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said second steered direction and reflected from each one of said multiplicity of scan planes;
• storing said first and second acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume of said first and second acoustic data;
• orienting said data volume relative to an imaging plane;
• generating first imaging data representing a first projection onto said imaging plane by applying a first projection transformation to said first acoustic data in said data volume;
• generating second imaging data representing a second projection onto said imaging plane by applying a second projection transformation to said second acoustic data in said data volume;
• and
• concurrently displaying first and second image frames which are functions of said first and second imaging data respectively.

A method for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising the steps of:

• scanning an ultrasound linear transducer array across said object volume;
• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during said scanning to transmit ultrasound beams in a steered direction, said steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• storing acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume from said acoustic data;
• selecting a two-dimensional slice of data in said data volume corresponding to a plane in said object volume which is coplanar with said specular ultrasound reflector;
• generating imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said data volume;
• and
• displaying an image frame which is a function of said imaging data.

A method for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising the steps of:

• scanning an ultrasound linear transducer array across said object volume;
• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during said scanning to transmit ultrasound beams in first and second steered directions, said second steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring first acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said first steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• acquiring second acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said second steered direction and reflected from each one of said multiplicity of scan planes;
• storing said first and second acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume of said first and second acoustic data;
• selecting a two-dimensional slice of data in said data volume corresponding to a plane in said object volume which is coplanar with said specular ultrasound reflector;
• generating first imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said first acoustic data in said data volume;
• generating second imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said second acoustic data in said data volume;
• and
• concurrently displaying first and second image frames which are functions of said first and second imaging data respectively.

A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising an ultrasound linear transducer array, a display monitor and a data processor programmed to perform the following steps:

• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during to transmit ultrasound beams in a steered direction, said steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• storing acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume from said acoustic data;
• orienting said data volume relative to an imaging plane;
• generating first imaging data representing a three-dimensional projection onto said imaging plane by applying a projection transformation to said data volume;
• and
• displaying a first image frame which is a function of said first imaging data on said display monitor.

A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising an ultrasound linear transducer array, a display monitor and a data processor programmed to perform the following steps:

• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during to transmit ultrasound beams in first and second steered directions, said second steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring first acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said first steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• acquiring second acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said second steered direction and reflected from each one of said multiplicity of scan planes;
• storing said first and second acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume of said first and second acoustic data;
• orienting said data volume relative to an imaging plane;
• generating first imaging data representing a first projection onto said imaging plane by applying a first projection transformation to said first acoustic data in said data volume;
• generating second imaging data representing a second projection onto said imaging plane by applying a second projection transformation to said second acoustic data in said data volume;
• and
• concurrently displaying first and second image frames which are functions of said first and second imaging data respectively on said display monitor.

A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising an ultrasound linear transducer array, a display monitor and a data processor programmed to perform the following steps:

• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during to transmit ultrasound beams in a steered direction, said steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• storing acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume from said acoustic data;
• selecting a two-dimensional slice of data in said data volume corresponding to a plane in said object volume which is coplanar with said specular ultrasound reflector;
• generating imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said data volume;
• and
• displaying an image frame which is a function of said imaging data on said display monitor.

A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume in which a specular ultrasound reflector is inserted, comprising an ultrasound linear transducer array, a display monitor and a data processor programmed to perform the following steps:

• operating said ultrasound linear transducer array during to transmit ultrasound beams in first and second steered directions, said second steered direction being such that reflections from said specular ultrasound reflector impinge on said ultrasound linear transducer array;
• acquiring first acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said first steered direction and reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume;
• acquiring second acoustic data derived at least in part from ultrasound echoes transmitted in said second steered direction and reflected from each one of said multiplicity of scan planes;
• storing said first and second acoustic data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes;
• defining a data volume of said first and second acoustic data;
• selecting a two-dimensional slice of data in said data volume corresponding to a plane in said object volume which is coplanar with said specular ultrasound reflector;
• generating first imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said first acoustic data in said data volume;
• generating second imaging data corresponding to said two-dimensional slice by reformatting said second acoustic data in said data volume;
• and
• concurrently displaying first and second image frames which are functions of said first and second imaging data respectively on said display monitor .