Ultrasonic probe, system and method for two-dimensional imaging or three-dimensional reconstruction
First Claim
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1. A method for registering image information acquired from an interior region of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting an ultrasonic probe into a patient to image an interior region of the patient, the ultrasonic probe having a body having a longitudinal axis, a circumference and a distal end region, a first ultrasound array disposed in the distal end region of the body and a second ultrasound array disposed in the distal end region of the body;
(b) acquiring a plurality of sets of image data with the first ultrasound array, the first ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of image data;
(c) acquiring a plurality of sets of tracking data with the second ultrasound array, the second ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of tracking data;
(d) automatically determining a component of motion based on a comparison of at least a portion of the tracking sets acquired in step (c); and
(e) automatically using the component of motion determined in step to register select ones of the image data sets acquired in step (b).
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Abstract
An ultrasonic probe that includes at least two ultrasonic arrays and allows three dimensional images to be constructed of the region examined by the probe in a precise and facile manner.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for registering image information acquired from an interior region of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an ultrasonic probe into a patient to image an interior region of the patient, the ultrasonic probe having a body having a longitudinal axis, a circumference and a distal end region, a first ultrasound array disposed in the distal end region of the body and a second ultrasound array disposed in the distal end region of the body;
(b) acquiring a plurality of sets of image data with the first ultrasound array, the first ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of image data;
(c) acquiring a plurality of sets of tracking data with the second ultrasound array, the second ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of tracking data;
(d) automatically determining a component of motion based on a comparison of at least a portion of the tracking sets acquired in step (c); and
(e) automatically using the component of motion determined in step to register select ones of the image data sets acquired in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for registering image information acquired from an interior region of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an ultrasonic probe into a patient to image an interior region of the patient, the ultrasonic probe having a body having a longitudinal axis, a circumference and a distal end region, a first ultrasound array disposed in the distal region of the body and a second ultrasound array disposed in the distal end region of the body;
(b) acquiring a plurality of sets of two-dimensional image data in an image plane with the first ultrasound array, the first ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of image data;
(c) acquiring a plurality of sets of tracking data in a tracking plane oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the image plane with the second ultrasound array, the second ultrasound array moved between acquisition of at least some of the sets of tracking data;
(d) automatically determining a component of motion based on a comparison of at least a portion of the tracking sets acquired in step (c); and
(e) automatically using the component of motion determined in step to register select ones of the image data sets acquired in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
(f) repeating steps (b), (c)and (d) and accumulating the component of motion detected in step (d) to generate composite detected motion wherein the composite detected motion indicates the motion of the ultrasonic probe with respect to a predetermined reference point;
(g) displaying the two-dimensional image data acquired in step (b); and
(h) displaying the composite detected motion determined in step (d).
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20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the composite detected of motion comprises displaying an icon representation of the composite detected motion.
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21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the second array is a radial phased array and the icon is a circle with an arrow indicating the degree of rotation.
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22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the second array is a linear phased array and the icon is a ruler with an arrow indicating the degree of translation.
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23. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of
(i) acquiring two-dimensional image data in the tracking plane with the second array; - and
(j) displaying at least a portion of the two-dimensional image information acquired in step (i).
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24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of displaying the composite detected motion comprises displaying an icon representative of the composite detected motion.
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25. The method to claim 24 wherein the icon is displayed over the two-dimensional image data displayed in step (j).
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26. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the composite detected motion comprises displaying a numerical value representative of the composite detected motion.
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27. A method for imaging an interior region of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an ultrasonic probe having a body having a longitudinal axis, a circumference, and a distal end region, a linear phased array disposed in the distal end region of the body and a radial phased array disposed 360°
around the circumference of the body into a patient to image an interior region of the patient;
(b) operating the linear phased array to image a first region during a first period of time; and
(c) operating the radial phased array to image a second region during a second period of time.
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Specification