Method and device for sensing ultrasound images

• US 6,310,828 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TomTec Imaging Systems GmbH (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: TomTec Imaging Systems GmbH (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mumm, Bernard, Kaiser, Dietmar, Waldinger, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/463,710
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 367/7, 367/11, 367/88, 600/443, 600/444, 600/445
• US Class Current: 367/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sensing ultrasound images of an object (1). The method is characterized in that an ultra-sound head (3) is moved along the object so as to sense individual image subdomains (13) of said object (1). An evaluation subdomain (14) is analyzed in order to determine the extent of the object (1) or the spacing (δx) between the individual image subdomains (13). This evaluation subdomain (14) is sensed perpendicularly to the sensed image subdomains (13); that is, it represents a domain of the object (1) which overlaps at least two image subdomains (13). In this way, allocation within the individual image subdomains (13) can be determined by using the structures of the object (1) thus obtained. To this end, in particular a vertical column structure (11) of the object (1) (evaluation subdomain (14)) is analyzed, thus enabling allocation of a plurality of individual horizontal line structures (10), i.e. individual “layers” of the object (1) (image subdomains (13)) among themselves.

Claims

1. A method for sensing ultrasound images of an object, comprising:

providing an ultrasound transmitter for emitting ultrasound waves onto the object and an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound waves reflected from the object, at least one of the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver being moved along the object for sensing individual image subdomains of the object,

determining at least one of spacings of the image subdomains among themselves and an extent of the object along the sensing direction to represent the object for determining said spacings of image subdomains at least one of among themselves and said extent of the object,

evaluating the sensing of an evaluation subdomain of said object wherein the picture of said evaluation subdomain represents a domain of the object, which overlaps at least two image subdomains.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object is sensed in a line-wise manner by image subdomains being directed perpendicularly with respect to the sensing direction of the ultrasound transducer, and

the extent of at least one of the object and spacings of the image subdomains among themselves are determined by evaluation of a picture of an evaluation subdomain which is directed substantially orthogonal with respect to the image subdomains.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound transmitter and ultrasound receiver is moved at a uniform velocity along the sensing direction.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein, for determining the at least one of the extent of the object and the spacings of the image subdomains, pictures of an evaluation subdomain are used which reproduce the column structure of the object, which correspond to the pictures of individual image subdomains, which reproduce the line structures of the object, at the intersections of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the depth information of the ultrasound waves reflected by at least one of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain is used for determining the surface structures of the object, the depth information being determined in a direction being substantially perpendicular with respect to a reference plane being parallel to the sensing direction.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the images formed from the image subdomains are at least one of processed and displayed in real time during the sensing of the object.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

8. A device for a method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasound transmitter and ultrasound receiver is moved at a uniform velocity along the sensing direction.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein, for determining the at least one of the extent of the object and the spacings of the image subdomains, pictures of an evaluation subdomain are used which reproduce the column structure of the object, which correspond to the pictures of individual image subdomains, which reproduce the line structures of the object, at the intersections of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain.

12. A method according to claim 3, wherein, for determining the at least one of the extent of the object and the spacings of the image subdomains, pictures of an evaluation subdomain are used which reproduce the column structure of the object, which correspond to the pictures of individual image subdomains, which reproduce the line structures of the object, at the intersections of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain.

13. A method according to claim 2, wherein the depth information of the ultrasound waves reflected by at least one of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain is used for determining the surface structures of the object, the depth information being determined in a direction being substantially perpendicular with respect to a reference plane being parallel to the sensing direction.

14. A method according to claim 3, wherein the depth information of the ultrasound waves reflected by at least one of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain is used for determining the surface structures of the object the depth information being determined in a direction being substantially perpendicular with respect to a reference plane being parallel to the sensing direction.

15. A method according to claim 4, wherein the depth information of the ultrasound waves reflected by at least one of the image subdomains and the evaluation subdomain is used for determining the surface structures of the object, the depth information being determined in a direction being substantially perpendicular with respect to a reference plane being parallel to the sensing direction.

16. A method according to claim 2, wherein the images formed from the image subdomains are at least one of processed and displayed in real time during the sensing of the object.

17. A method according to claim 3, wherein the images formed from the image subdomains are at least one of processed and displayed in real time during the sensing of the object.

18. A method according to claim 4, wherein the images formed from the image subdomains are at least one of processed and displayed in real time during the sensing of the object.

19. A method according to claim 5, wherein the images formed from the image subdomains are at least one of processed and displayed in real time during the sensing of the object.

20. A method according to claim 2, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

21. A method according to claim 3, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

22. A method according to claim 4, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

23. A method according to claim 5, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

24. A method according to claim 6, wherein the object is sensed in a body.

25. A device for a method according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

26. A device for a method according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

27. A device for a method according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

28. A device for a method according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

29. A device for a method according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

30. A device for a method according to claim 7, wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are integrated in an ultrasound head.

31. A device according to claim 25, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

32. A device according to claim 26, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

33. A device according to claim 27, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

34. A device according to claim 28, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

35. A device according to claim 29, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.

36. A device according to claim 30, wherein at least one of a data processing system and the ultrasound device processes the ultrasound images and a display device displays the resulting images.