Ultrasonic blood vessel measurement apparatus and method

A diagnostic ultrasound system providing re-measurement of a tissue structure from an image, the system comprising:

• an image capturing device configured to provide first and second images that include the tissue structure features;
• a user interface configured to accept first operator input regarding a location of a layer of tissue in a measurement region of the first image for use in measurement of an intima-media thickness (IMT) of the tissue structure, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive second operator input regarding a location of the layer of tissue in the second image;
• a memory having data structures that include one or more executable modules, wherein the memory is configured to store at least a portion of the first operator input and measurement parameters and record information with respect to the first image;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute modules stored on the memory for
• identifying one or more tissue structure features in the first image,
• measuring an IMT of the tissue structure in the first image using the first operator input,
• determining an orientation of the layer of tissue in the image relative to one or more boundaries of the measurement region;
• registering the second image, wherein registering the second image includes aligning the layer of tissue in the second image based on the second operator input and on the orientation of the layer of tissue in the first image, and
• measuring an IMT of the tissue structure in the registered second image using the measurement parameters and record information with respect to the first image.

A method of operating a computer system to provide tissue structure measurements from a series of images, the method comprising:

• identifying a datum corresponding to a location of a layer of tissue within a first image of the series of images;
• measuring an intima-media thickness (IMT) of tissue appearing in the first image using the datum;
• determining an orientation of the layer of tissue in the first image;
• registering a successive second image of the series of images, wherein registering the second image includes aligning the layer of tissue in the second image based on the orientation of the layer of tissue in the first image;
• and
• adapting the datum to revise the measurement of the IMT of the tissue in the first image using an IMT measurement of the tissue in the second image.