Methods and systems for guiding the acquisition of ultrasound images

• US 20090024030A1
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elekta Ltd. (Elekta AB)
• Original Assignee: Elekta Ltd. (Elekta AB)
• Inventors: Falco, Tony, Lachaine, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,531,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions

Abstract

A method of presenting a suggested path for an ultrasound probe along a patient'"'"'s surface includes obtaining a three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image of the patient and an ultrasound image of the patient. A treatment area is defined within the within the three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image, and using the images, defining a scanning site contour of an anatomical structure of interest within the patient and an external contour of the patient'"'"'s surface. A preferred path of the ultrasound scan is projected onto the external contour such that an operator can reproduce the ultrasound scan without knowledge of the anatomical structure of interest.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a suggested path for an ultrasound probe along a patient'"'"'s surface, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image of the patient;

(b) defining a treatment area within the three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image;

(c) obtaining an ultrasound image of the treatment area, and using the ultrasound image and three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image to define a scanning site contour of an anatomical structure of interest within the patient and an external contour of the patient'"'"'s surface; and

(d) displaying a preferred path of the previously acquired ultrasound scan onto the external contour such that an operator can reproduce the ultrasound scan without knowledge of the anatomical structure of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the scanning site contour.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the preferred path is found algorithmically by constraining the preferred path to the external surface such that the reproduced ultrasound scan encompasses the scanning site contour.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a representation of the position of the ultrasound probe in conjunction with the preferred path.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the position of the ultrasound probe is determined using an optical tracking system.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the position of the ultrasound probe is determined using a mechanical tracking system.

7. A method of presenting a suggested path for an ultrasound probe along a surface of a patient, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a surface representation of the patient; and

(b) superimposing a preferred ultrasound scanning path on the surface representation, thereby guiding an operator'"'"'s use of an ultrasound probe in obtaining an ultrasound image.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying a surface portion of an anatomical structure in the ultrasound image.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the preferred ultrasound scanning path is based at least in part on a previously acquired ultrasound scan.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising presenting a representation of the position of the ultrasound probe in conjunction with the preferred ultrasound scanning path.

11. The method of claim 7 where the surface representation is obtained from a non-ultrasound image.

12. A system for presenting a suggested path for an ultrasound probe along a patient'"'"'s surface, the system comprising:

(a) a register for (i) obtaining a three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image of the patient, (ii) obtaining an ultrasound image of the treatment area, and (iii) receiving, from an operator, a defined treatment area within the three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image; and

(b) a processor configured to (i) define a scanning site contour of an anatomical structure of interest within the patient and an external contour of the patient'"'"'s surface using the ultrasound image and three-dimensional, non-ultrasound image, and (ii) display a preferred path of the previously acquired ultrasound scan onto the external contour such that an operator can reproduce the ultrasound scan without knowledge of the anatomical structure of interest.