X-RAY TOOL FOR 3D ULTRASOUND

• US 20100188398A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Snook, Allen David, Garg, Rohit, Vion, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,466,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• 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 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52063 Sector scan display
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52074 Composite displays, e.g. split-screen displays; Combination of multiple images or of images and alphanumeric tabular information
• 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: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for rendering an ultrasound volume. An external image of an ultrasound volume is generated. A fractional part of the external image corresponds to a fractional portion of the ultrasound volume. A composite image of the ultrasound is generated using the external image, wherein the fractional part of the external image is replaced with an internal image of the ultrasound volume fractional portion. The internal image may be generated by changing a value of a visualization parameter used to generate the external image to a value more suitable for rendering an internal image. The ultrasound volume may include a organic structure, wherein the external image depicts an outer surface of the organic structure, and the internal image depicts a vascularity of the organic structure, such that the composite image simultaneously depicts both an outer surface and the vascularity of the organic structure.

Claims

1. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume, the method comprising:

generating an external image of an ultrasound volume, wherein a fractional part of said external image corresponds to a fractional portion of said ultrasound volume; and

generating a composite image of said ultrasound volume using said external image, wherein said fractional part is replaced with an internal image of said ultrasound volume corresponding to said fractional portion.

2. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, wherein said external image generation step includes setting a visualization parameter to reflect a first parameter value and applying said visualization parameter to said ultrasound volume, and further comprising generating said internal image by setting said visualization parameter to a second parameter value different than said first parameter value, said second parameter value being at least incrementally more suitable than said first parameter value for purposes of rendering an internal image of said ultrasound volume.

3. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 2, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor in conjunction with a mouse wheel, and permitting a viewer of said computer monitor screen to use the mouse wheel to selectably incrementally adjust a value of said visualization parameter associated with said internal image.

4. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 3, wherein said visualization parameter is Transparency.

5. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 2, wherein said visualization parameter includes at least one selected from the group comprising Brightness, Transparency, Thresholding, Lighting, Smoothing, Gray Map, Chroma Map, and Ray Cast Method.

6. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 5, wherein said visualization parameter comprehends a set of two or more visualization parameters selected from said group, and said first and second values comprehend respective sets of values to which the visualization parameters of said set of two or more visualization parameters are respectively set.

7. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 2, wherein said visualization parameter is an intensity parameter, and said second value of said visualization parameter is preset to include at least one selected from the group comprising X-ray, average, and minimum.

8. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, wherein an image magnification parameter associated with said internal and external images is of substantially the same value.

9. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound volume is one selected from a group comprising an echo volume, a color volume, or an echo+color volume.

10. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound volume includes an organic structure, said external image depicts an outer surface of said organic structure, and said internal image depicts a vascularity of said organic structure, such that said composite image simultaneously depicts both an outer surface of said organic structure and said vascularity thereof.

11. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, the method further comprising displaying said external image on a screen of a computer monitor in conjunction with a user-movable cursor, and permitting a viewer of said computer monitor to initiate said composite image generation step by using said cursor to designate said fractional portion of said ultrasound volume for internal viewing.

12. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor, and upon receipt of an appropriate command from a viewer of said computer monitor screen, selectably entirely replacing said composite image with an internal image of said ultrasound volume coextensive with said external image thereof, and associated with the same visualization parameters and parameter values of the internal image of the fractional portion.

13. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor in conjunction with a user movable cursor positioned over said composite image, and permitting a viewer of said computer monitor to trigger said composite image modification step by moving said cursor to a new position over said composite image.

14. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, wherein a respective second fractional part of said external image corresponds to a second fractional portion of said ultrasound volume, and the method further comprising modifying said composite image to form a modified composite image wherein said second fractional part is replaced with a second internal image of said ultrasound volume corresponding to said second fractional portion.

15. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 14, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor, and wherein said composite image modification step includes wherein said internal image of said fractional portion contained in said composite image is replaced on said computer monitor screen with said fractional part to whatever extent said fractional part does not intersect with said second fractional part.

16. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 14, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor in conjunction with a user movable cursor, and permitting a viewer of said computer monitor screen to initiate said composite image modification step by using said cursor to designate said second fractional portion of said ultrasound volume for internal viewing.

17. A method for rendering an ultrasound volume according to claim 1, the method further comprising displaying said composite image on a screen of a computer monitor in conjunction with a user movable cursor, permitting a viewer of said computer monitor screen to move said cursor relative to said composite image to designate a second fractional portion of said ultrasound volume for internal viewing, and in response to said user designation, generating a modified composite image of said ultrasound volume using said external image, wherein said fractional part is restored, and a second fractional part of said external image corresponding to said second fractional portion is replaced with an internal image of said ultrasound volume corresponding to said second fractional portion.

18. A computer readable medium comprising a program that, when executed by a processor, performs a method for rendering an ultrasound volume, the method comprising:

generating an external image of an ultrasound volume, wherein a fractional part of said external image corresponds to a fractional portion of said ultrasound volume; and

generating a composite image of said ultrasound volume using said external image, wherein said fractional part is replaced with an internal image of said ultrasound volume corresponding to said fractional portion.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising a program that, when executed by a processor, performs a method for rendering an ultrasound volume, the method comprising;

generating an external image of an ultrasound volume, wherein a fractional part of said external image corresponds to a fractional portion of said ultrasound volume; and

generating a composite image of said ultrasound volume using said external image, wherein said fractional part is replaced with an internal image of said ultrasound volume corresponding to said fractional portion; and

a processor for executing said program.