Scanning aid for quantified three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging

A scanning aid for obtaining quantified three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging data with a manually swept ultrasonic probe, comprising:

• a reference surface for referencing said probe with a body being examined by said probe;
• a holding device coupled to said reference surface for removably holding said probe in a predetermined position relative to said reference surface;
• a rotatable shaft coupled to said holding device for supporting movement of said probe as it is manually moved;
• and
• a position sensing device coupled to said rotatable shaft for producing an electrical output signal electrically coupled to a medical diagnostic ultrasound system, wherein said output signal is proportional to the angular orientation of said probe relative to said body;
• and
• triggering means coupled to receive said output signal for triggering said probe proportionally to the speed of said probe movement to instantaneously scan and acquire image data from a plurality of said probe's image plane positions as said probe is manually moved by a user to scan a volumetric region of said body.

A scanning aid for quantified three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of a body with a manually swept ultrasonic probe, comprising:

• a reference surface;
• holding means coupled to said reference surface for removably holding said probe in a predetermined relationship with said reference surface;
• rotating means coupled to said holding means for supporting movement of said probe as it is manually moved;
• positional sensing means coupled to said rotating means for sensing the position of said probe in relation to said body as said probe is manually moved by a user to scan said volumetric region;
• and
• data acquisition triggering means coupled to said positional sensing means for initiating said probe's acquisition of image data at intervals corresponding to the speed of said probe as said probe is manually moved by said user to scan a volumetric region of said body.

A scanning aid for quantified three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of a body with a manually swept ultrasonic scanhead, comprising:

• a reference surface;
• holding means for removably coupling said scanhead to said reference surface in a predetermined relation to said body;
• rotating means for supporting the manual movement of said scanhead in said holding means;
• positional sensing means for sensing the angular orientation of said probe in relation to said body as said probe is manually moved by a user to scan a volumetric region of said body;
• and
• triggering means coupled to said positional sensing means for acquiring uniformly angularly spaced image plane data of said body by initiating said scan plane in intervals proportional to the speed of said scanhead as said scanhead is manually moved by said user.

A method of manually scanning a volumetric region of a body with an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging probe and a scanning aid comprising the steps of:

• attaching said probe to said scanning aid in a predetermined position;
• locating said scanning aid on the surface of said body;
• manually moving said probe to scan said volumetric region;
• receiving imaging trigger signals as said probe passes through predetermined scan plane orientations;
• and
• actuating said probe in response to said trigger signals, wherein the rate of said actuation is proportional to the speed of said probe movement.