System and method for 3-D ultrasound imaging and motion estimation
First Claim
1. A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:
- generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume;
determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames over said volume;
determining a cross-correlation characteristic over pairs of frames; and
using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for 3-D ultrasound image registration and 3-D motion estimation. A calibrated 3-D speckle function is first pre-determined for the transducer and the tissue to be scanned. A series of image frames are identified and grouped into 3-D big and small blocks. Blocks representing speckle are identified and then, a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique is used to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimation based on decorrelation characteristics throughout the volume. For in-plane motion estimation, cross-correlation characteristics between pairs of frames are compared and, using a minimum sum absolute value technique, an estimate of in-plane motion is obtained. Fuzzy logic techniques are then used to obtain more accurate estimates. Finally, the out-of-plane motion estimate is updated based on decorrelation characteristics of the speckle frames used for the in-plane determination using a full width half maximum value technique.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:
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generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames over said volume; determining a cross-correlation characteristic over pairs of frames; and using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:
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means for generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; means for determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames; means for determining a cross-correlation characteristic of said frames; and means for using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:
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generating a series of frames; determining a first characteristic of said frames related to out-of-plane motion; determining a second characteristic of said frames relating to in-plane motion; and using said first and second characteristics to obtain a motion estimate wherein said first characteristic is a first decorrelation characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification