Path related three dimensional medical imaging

• US 20070083099A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Sumanaweera, Thilaka, Guracar, Ismayil, Henderson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/241,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54

Abstract

A path in a three dimensional structure is identified with a processor. The structure for determining the path may be identified by selection of a location on a one or two-dimensional image. The processor then extrapolates the structure of interest from the location and generates the path. Navigating along a path through a three dimensional space limits complication. For example, a simple input provides for navigation forward, backward or remaining stationary along the path. Navigation may be used to localize calculations, to define Doppler related scanning regions and orientations, or to determine the representation of the scanned volume data.

Claims

1. A method for navigating during three-dimensional medical imaging associated with a path, the method comprising:

navigating along the path in a volume in response to user input, the path being nonlinear; and

performing an additional localized scanning or measurement as a function of a location on the path, the location being responsive to the navigating.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a three-dimensional representation as a function of the location on the path.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein navigating comprises navigating along the path through a vessel as a function of one-dimensional user input.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein navigating comprises navigating in response to one-dimensional user input of forward, backward or stationary inputs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the path comprises at least first and second branches, further comprising:

selecting between the first and second branches in response to user input;

wherein navigating comprises navigating in response to the user input along the selected first or second branch, the user input being one-dimensional with respect to movement.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the path with a processor from medical imaging data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining the path comprises:

fitting a line through a contiguous region associated with lesser tissue reflection;

fitting the line through the contiguous region associated with greater flow magnitude;

mapping the line as a function of flow direction;

mapping the line as a function of a medial axis transform of flow magnitude or velocity;

or

combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein determining the path comprises receiving user indication of a location on a one or two-dimensional image, the location associated with the path.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or two-dimensional image is generated as a function of one or two-dimensional scanning, respectively, with a transducer operable to scan a volume and wherein the three-dimensional representation is generated as a function of volume scanning with the transducer after receiving the user indication.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the additional localized scanning or measurement as the function of the location on the path comprises calculating a value as a function of the location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining a region of interest as a function of the location on the path.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the additional localized scanning or measurement as the function of the location on the path comprises orienting a scan line or scan plane as a function of the location on the path.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

storing the path and any selected branches; and

subsequently indicating the stored path.

14. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for navigating during three-dimensional medical imaging associated with a path, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

navigating along the path in a volume in response to one dimensional user input, the path being nonlinear and the one dimensional user input being with respect to movement; and

generating a three-dimensional representation, guiding localized scanning, measuring or combinations thereof as a function of a location on the path, the location being responsive to the navigating.

15. The instructions of claim 14 wherein generating the three-dimensional representation comprises generating a sequence of medical ultrasound images representing a volume in a patient, the sequence responsive to the navigation along the path.

16. The instructions of claim 14 wherein navigating comprises navigating in response to user input of forward, backward or stationary inputs.

17. The instructions of claim 14 wherein guiding localized scanning comprises steering as a function of the location.

18. The instructions of claim 14 wherein measuring comprises calculating a value as a function of the location.

19. A method for navigating in three-dimensional medical imaging associated with a path, the method comprising:

generating a one or two-dimensional image;

receiving user indication of a location on the one or two-dimensional image, the location associated with the path; and

selecting a volume as a function of the location.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting the volume comprises determining the path with a processor from medical imaging data as a function of the location.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the one or two-dimensional image is generated as a function of one or two-dimensional scanning, respectively, with a transducer operable to scan a volume;

and

further comprising generating a three-dimensional representation of the volume as a function of volume scanning with the transducer after receiving the user indication.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

navigating along the path in response to one dimensional user input, the path being nonlinear; and

generating a three-dimensional representation of the volume, calculating a value or guiding scanning as a function of a location on the path, the location being responsive to the navigating.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

storing the path and any selected branches; and

subsequently indicating the stored path.

24. In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for navigating in three-dimensional medical imaging associated with a path, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

generating a one or two-dimensional image;

receiving user indication of a location on the one or two-dimensional image, the location associated with the path; and

selecting a volume as a function of the location.

25. The instructions of claim 24 wherein selecting the volume comprises determining the path with a processor from medical imaging data as a function of the location.

26. The instructions of claim 24 wherein the one or two-dimensional image is generated as a function of one or two-dimensional scanning, respectively, with a transducer operable to scan a volume;

and

further comprising generating a three-dimensional representation of the volume as a function of volume scanning with the transducer after receiving the user indication.

27. A method for navigating in three-dimensional medical imaging associated with a path, the method comprising:

determining a three-dimensional path in a vessel with a processor from medical imaging data; and

scanning as a function of the three-dimensional path.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising generating a three-dimensional representation of flow from scanning at an angle, the angle being a function of the three-dimensional path.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein scanning comprises positioning a Doppler gate as a function of the three-dimensional path.