Method and apparatus for enabling a biopsy needle to be observed

A method of enabling a biopsy needle to be observed in a three-dimensional ultrasound image, comprising the steps of:

• acquiring a two-dimensional ultrasound image of a subject;
• generating a three-dimensional volume image based on the two-dimensional ultrasound image;
• segmenting a target image, which corresponds to a target object within the subject, from the three-dimensional volume image;
• displaying a guide line of the biopsy needle on the segmented target image;
• extracting the segmented target image;
• acquiring information on a location of the biopsy needle by reference to the segmented target image;
• calculating an error based on the information;
• and
• displaying a guiding status of the biopsy needle based on the calculated error,
• wherein said extracting step includes calculating a center of gravity of the segment target image.

An apparatus for enabling a biopsy needle to be observed in a three-dimensional ultrasound image comprising:

• means for transmitting ultrasound signals towards a target object and receiving echo signals reflected from the target object;
• means for forming a three-dimensional volume image by receiving and combining two-dimensional data from said transmitting means;
• means for extracting the target object from the three-dimensional volume image;
• means for estimating a location of the extracted target object and a location of the biopsy needle that is inserted into the extracted target object;
• means for displaying the extracted target object;
• and
• means for calculating an error in location between the biopsy needle and the extracted target object based on said estimation and providing the calculation error to said estimating means,
• wherein said means for estimating finds a center of gravity of the extracted target object to estimate the location of the extracted target object.