Ultrasound image processing system
First Claim
1. An ultrasound image processing system, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe including an ultrasound transducer configured to provide 2D scans over a predetermined range, and a drive means for moving said ultrasound transducer in a direction different from a direction of the 2D scans by said transducer;
a 2D ultrasound image capture means arranged to generate 2D ultrasound images by processing return echo signals received by said ultrasound transducer in a predetermined pitch in a direction of movement of said ultrasound transducer;
an image selector means arranged to select and extract unit 2D ultrasound images for 3D image processing from 2D ultrasound images sequentially generated by said 2D image capture means at a predetermined extraction rate in relation with movement of said ultrasound transducer;
a marker means for inserting a marker sign on frames of selected unit 2D ultrasound images outside an image area within a field of a selected 2D ultrasound image in relation with a picture signal processing operation by said 2D ultrasound image capture means; and
an image recording means for storing 2D ultrasound images with a marker sign along with other non-selected 2D ultrasound images without a marker sign.
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Abstract
An ultrasound image processing system, having an ultrasound image capture device such as a B-mode ultrasound probe capable of making 2D scans over a predetermined range, and a drive for moving an ultrasound transducer in a direction different from the direction of 2D scans by the transducer to capture 2D ultrasound images sequentially in a predetermined pitch in the direction of movement of the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound image processing system is provided with a marker for inserting a marker sign on field images selected from a large number of 2D ultrasound images sequentially captured by the image capture device, for use in three-dimensional image processing in a subsequent stage.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An ultrasound image processing system, comprising:
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an ultrasound probe including an ultrasound transducer configured to provide 2D scans over a predetermined range, and a drive means for moving said ultrasound transducer in a direction different from a direction of the 2D scans by said transducer; a 2D ultrasound image capture means arranged to generate 2D ultrasound images by processing return echo signals received by said ultrasound transducer in a predetermined pitch in a direction of movement of said ultrasound transducer; an image selector means arranged to select and extract unit 2D ultrasound images for 3D image processing from 2D ultrasound images sequentially generated by said 2D image capture means at a predetermined extraction rate in relation with movement of said ultrasound transducer; a marker means for inserting a marker sign on frames of selected unit 2D ultrasound images outside an image area within a field of a selected 2D ultrasound image in relation with a picture signal processing operation by said 2D ultrasound image capture means; and an image recording means for storing 2D ultrasound images with a marker sign along with other non-selected 2D ultrasound images without a marker sign. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasound image processing system, comprising:
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an ultrasound probe comprising, an ultrasound transducer configured to provide 2D scans over a predetermined range, and a motor configured to move said ultrasound transducer in a direction different from a direction of the 2D scans by said transducer; a signal processing circuit configured to generate 2D ultrasound images by sequentially processing return echo signals received by said ultrasound transducer in a predetermined pitch in a direction of movement of said ultrasound transducer; an image extracting section configured to select and extract unit 2D ultrasound images for 3D image processing from 2D ultrasound images sequentially generated by said signal processing circuit at a predetermined extraction rate in relation with movement of said ultrasound transducer; a marker device configured to insert a marker sign on frames of selected unit 2D ultrasound images outside an image area within a field of a selected 2D ultrasound image in relation with a picture signal processing operation by said signal processing circuit; and a memory device configured to store 2D ultrasound images with a marker sign along with other non-selected 2D ultrasound images without a marker sign.
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Specification