Generation of standard protocols for review of 3D ultrasound image data

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for reviewing 3D ultrasound image data comprising:

• a 3D ultrasound probe operable to acquire 3D image data of a region of a subject;
• an ultrasound signal path responsive to the acquired 3D image data which produces ultrasound images;
• a display coupled to the ultrasound signal path which displays the ultrasound images;
• and
• an image review processing unit responsive to a 3D image data set and operable to:
• 1) locate a reference image in the 3D image data set;
• 2) manipulate the 3D image data set from a view of the reference image to arrive at a desired diagnostic image;
• 3) record the manipulations of the 3D image data set;
• and
• 4) replay the recorded manipulations from a view of a reference image to arrive at a desired diagnostic image,
• wherein the display is operable to display images of three different image planes of a 3D image data set,
• wherein the display is used to display images for the image review processing unit, and
• wherein 2) includes one or more of the manipulations of changing the plane of an image, translating the center of interest of an image plane to a different anatomical location, rotating an image plane about an axis, and translating an image plane by a certain distance.

In an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system, a method for recording and replaying a review protocol for 3D ultrasonic image data comprising:

• acquiring a 3D image data set of a given anatomy;
• identifying a reference image of the 3D image data set;
• starting a recording of image view manipulations;
• manipulating views of images of the 3D image data set starting from a view of the reference image and ending with a desired ending image view;
• stopping the recording;
• replaying the recording with a 3D image data set, comprising:
• acquiring a second 3D image data set of the same type of anatomy;
• identifying a reference image of the second 3D image data set;
• and
• replaying the recording to manipulate views of images of the second 3D image data set and ending with a desired ending image view.