System and method for 3-D ultrasound imaging and motion estimation

• US 5,876,342 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Weng, Lee, Chen, Jian-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/884,708
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/444, 600/447, 73/597, 128/916, 382/128, 382/278, 382/285
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

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.

Claims

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.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a second decorrelation characteristic over said pairs of frames.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising using said first and second decorrelation characteristic to determine an out-of-plane motion estimate.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said determining a second decorrelation characteristic comprises obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising using said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain an in-plane motion estimate.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising using said decorrelation characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining a first decorrelation characteristic comprises obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining a cross-correlation characteristic comprises obtaining a minimum sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

9. A system for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:

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.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for determining a second decorrelation characteristic over said frames.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising means for using said first and second decorrelation characteristic to determine an out-of-plane motion estimate.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for determining a second decorrelation characteristic includes means for obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

13. A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for using said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain an in-plane motion estimate.

14. A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for using said decorrelation characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein said means for determining a first decorrelation characteristic includes means for obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein said means for determining a cross-correlation characteristic includes means for obtaining a minimum sum-absolute-difference characteristic.

17. A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising:

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.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising determining a third characteristic of said frames relating to out-of-plane motion.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising using said third characteristic and said first characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said third characteristic is a second decorrelation characteristic.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said third characteristic is obtained using a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein said second characteristic is a cross-correlation characteristic.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said cross-correlation characteristic is obtained using a minimum sum-absolute-difference technique.

24. A method according to claim 17, wherein said first characteristic is obtained using a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique.