Three-dimensional imaging system

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object, comprising:

• source means for sequentially transmitting ultrasonic energy toward said object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, said successive directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to a reference direction, and for repeating the sequential transmission of ultrasonic energy toward said object in said successive directions in successive scanning planes parallel to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of said object, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals;
• and
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of said object;
• wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from said object and divided into a left image plane and a right image plane, said reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of said object into a first image in said left image plane and a second image in said right image plane, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• said system further comprising display means for displaying said first and second images compositely, whereby to display said three-dimensional image of said object;
• wherein said detector means comprises a first plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a first line in said left image plane, each of said transducers of said first plurality of transducers being disposed in a respective one of said first scanning plane and said successive scanning planes, said detector means further comprising a second plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a second line in said right image plane, each of aid transducers of said second plurality of transducers being disposed in a respective one of said first scanning plane and said successive scanning planes.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• source means disposed at a given point displaced from the three-dimensional object for transmitting ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, each successive direction having an angular orientation, with respect to a reference direction in the first scanning plane, which is greater then the angular orientation with respect to the reference direction of any preceding direction, and for repeating the transmission of ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in successive scanning planes, wherein each successive scanning plane has an angular orientation, measured at the given point and with respect to said first scanning plane, which is greater than the angular orientation of any preceding scanning plane as measured at the given point and with respect to the first scanning plane, whereby said source means transmits ultrasonic energy in said first scanning plane and in successive scanning planes having increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of the three-dimensional object as a result of scanning of said three-dimensional object by said source means in said first and said successive scanning planes, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals, wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from the three-dimensional object, the image plane being perpendicular to the first scanning plane, the image plane being divided into a left image plane and a right image plane;
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical [signal] signals to develop reconstructed image data of the three-dimensional object, said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means corresponding to forward projections of the three-dimensional object into said left image plane to form a first image and into said right image plane to form a second image, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• and
• display means connected to said processing means and responsive to said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means for displaying said first and second images compositely, thereby displaying said three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional object;
• wherein said source means comprises an ultrasonic source disposed [in said image plane] on a line perpendicular [both] to said first scanning plane [and to said forward projections, said line forming a boundary between said left and right image planes].

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• source means disposed at a given point displaced from the three-dimensional object for transmitting ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, each successive direction having an angular orientation, with respect to a reference direction in the first scanning plane, which is greater then the angular orientation with respect to the reference direction of any preceding direction, and for repeating the transmission of ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in successive scanning planes, wherein each successive scanning plane has an angular orientation, measured at the given point and with respect to said first scanning plane, which is greater than the angular orientation of any preceding scanning plane as measured at the given point and with respect to the first scanning plane, whereby said source means transmits ultrasonic energy in said first scanning plane and in successive scanning lanes having increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of the three-dimensional object as a result of scanning of said three-dimensional object by said source means in said first and said successive scanning planes, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals, wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from the three-dimensional object, the image plane being perpendicular to the first scanning plane, the image plane being divided into a left image plane and a right image plane;
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of the three-dimensional object, said reconstructed image data developed by [sid] said processing means corresponding to forward projections of the three-dimensional object into said left image plane to form a first image and into said right image plane to form a second image, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• and
• display means connected to said processing means and responsive to said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means for displaying said first and second images compositely, thereby displaying said three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional object;
• wherein said detector means comprises an ultrasonic transducer disposed in said image plane on a line perpendicular both [of] to said first scanning plane and to said forward projections, said line forming a boundary between said left and right image planes.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object, comprising:

• source means for transmitting ultrasonic signals have different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in a first scanning plane, said different directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to a reference direction, and for repeating the transmission of said ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies toward said object in successive scanning planes parallel to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of said object, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals and
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of said object;
• wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from said [boject] object and divided into a left image plane and a right image plane, said detector means comprising [a plurality of] at least one ultrasonic [transducers] transducer arranged [in] on a line in said image plane, said line forming a boundary between said left image plane and said right image plane, said reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of said object into a first image in said left image plane and a second image in said right image plane, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• said system further comprising display means for displaying said first and second images compositely, whereby to display said three-dimensional image of said object.

A three-dimensional imaging system for [obtining] obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object, comprising:

• source means for transmitting ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in a first scanning lane, said different directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to a reference direction, and for repeating the transmission of said ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies toward said object in successive scanning planes parallel to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of said object, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals;
• and
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of said object;
• wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from said object and divided into a left image plane and a right image plane, said reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of said object into a first image in said left image plane and a second image in said right image plane, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• said system further comprising display means for displaying said first and second images compositely, whereby to display said three-dimensional image of said object;
• wherein said detector means comprises a first plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a first line in said left image plane, each of said transducers of said first plurality of transducers being disposed in a respective one of said first scanning plane and said successive scanning planes, said detector means further comprising a second plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in a second line in said right image plane, each of said transducers of said second plurality of transducers being disposed in a respective one of said first scanning plane and said successive scanning planes.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object, comprising:

• source means for transmitting ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in a first scanning plane, said different directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to a reference direction, and for repeating the transmission of said ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in successive scanning planes, said successive scanning planes having a increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of said object and for converting said reflected energy to electric signals;
• and
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of said object;
• wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from said object and divided into a left image plane and a right image plane, said reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of said object into a first image in said left image plane and a second image in said right image plane, said first and second images forming a stereo pair, said detector means comprising an ultrasonic transducer disposed in said image plane on a line perpendicular both to said first scanning plane and to said forward projections, said line forming a boundary between said left image plane and said right image plane;
• said system further comprising a display means for displaying said first and second images compositely, whereby to display said three-dimensional image of said object.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of an object, comprising:

• source means for transmitting ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in a first scanning plane, said different directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to a reference direction, and for repeating the transmission of said ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in different directions toward said object in successive scanning planes, said successive scanning planes having increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of said object and for converting said reflected energy to electric signals;
• and
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of said object;
• wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from said object and divided into a let image plane and a right image plane, said reconstructed image data comprising forward projections of said object into a first image in said left image plane and a second image in said right image plane, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• said system further comprising display means for displaying said first and second images compositely, whereby to display said three-dimensional image of said object;
• wherein said detector means comprises a first ultrasonic transducer disposed in said image plane on a first line perpendicular both to said first scanning plane and to said forward projections, and a second ultrasonic transducer disposed [to] in said image plane on a second line perpendicular both to said first scanning plane and to said forward [projections] projections, wherein said source means comprises an ultrasonic source disposed in said image plane on said first line, said system further comprising additional source means for transmitting ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in additional different directions toward said object in said first scanning plane, said additional different directions having increasing angular orientations with respect to an additional reference direction, and for repeating the transmission of said ultrasonic signals having different respective frequencies in said additional different directions toward said object in said successive scanning planes, said additional source means comprising an additional ultrasonic source disposed in said image plane on said second line.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• source means disposed at a given point displaced from the three-dimensional object for transmitting ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, each successive direction having an angular orientation, with respect to a reference direction in the first scanning plane, which is greater then the angular orientation with respect to the reference direction of any preceding direction, and for repeating the transmission of ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in a successive directions in successive scanning planes, wherein each successive scanning plane has an angular orientation, measured at the given point and with respect to said first scanning plane, which is greater than the angular orientation of any preceding scanning plane as measured at the given point and with respect to the first scanning plane, whereby said source means transmits ultrasonic energy in said first scanning plane and in successive scanning planes having increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of the three-dimensional object as a result of scanning of said three-dimensional object by said source means in said first and said successive scanning planes, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals, wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from the three-dimensional object, the image plane being perpendicular to the first scanning plane, the image plane being divided into a left image plane and a right image plane;
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of the three-dimensional object, said reconstructed image data developed by said [procesing] processing means corresponding to forward projections of the three-dimensional object into said left image plane to form a first image and into said right image plane to form a second image, said first and second images forming a stereo pair;
• and
• display means connected to said processing means and responsive to said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means for displaying said first and second images compositely, thereby displaying said three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional object.

A three-dimensional imaging system for obtaining a three-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• source means disposed at a given point displaced from the three-dimensional object for transmitting ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in a first scanning plane, each successive direction having an angular orientation, with respect to a reference direction in the first scanning plane, which is greater then the angular orientation with respect to the reference direction of any preceding direction, and for repeating the transmission of ultrasonic energy from the given point toward the three-dimensional object in successive directions in successive scanning planes, wherein each successive scanning plane has an angular orientation, measured at the given point and with respect to said first scanning plane, which is greater than the angular orientation of any preceding scanning plane as measured at the given point and with respect to the first scanning plane, whereby said source means transmits ultrasonic energy in said first scanning plane and in successive scanning planes having increasing angular orientations with respect to said first scanning plane;
• detector means for receiving reflected energy reflected from material of the three-dimensional object as a result of scanning of said three-dimensional object by said source means in said first and said successive scanning planes, and for converting said reflected energy to electrical signals, wherein said detector means is disposed in an image plane displaced from the three-dimensional object, the image plane being perpendicular to the first scanning plane, the image plane being divided into a left image plane and a right image plane;
• processing means connected to said detector means for receiving said electrical signals, and for processing said electrical signals to develop reconstructed image data of the three-dimensional object, said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means corresponding to forward projections of the three-dimensional object into said left image plane to form a first image and into said right image plane to form a second image, said first and second images forming a [stero] stereo pair;
• and
• display means connected to said processing means and responsive to said reconstructed image data developed by said processing means for displaying said first and second images compositely, thereby displaying said three-dimensional image of the three-dimensional object;
• wherein each of said electrical signals received by said processing means represents a reflection profile for the energy reflected from the material of the three-dimensional object as a result of scanning in a respective one of said successive directions, said processing means comprising means for performing a differentiation operation to identify reflective peaks in the reflection profile.