Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method for versatile processing

• US 6,511,426 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Hossack, John A., Maslak, Samuel H., Hastings, Jeffrey S., Greenberg, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAULIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/328,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 600/443, 600/444, 600/445, 600/455, 600/447, 600/449, 600/448, 600/456, 600/437, 128/916
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5276 due to motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8981 Discriminating between fixed and moving objects or between objects moving at different speeds, e.g. wall clutter filter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/899 Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8995 Combining images from different aspect angles, e.g. spatial compounding
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52077 with means for elimination of unwanted signals, e.g. noise or interference

Abstract

A method and system for reducing speckle for two and three-dimensional images is disclosed. For two-dimensional imaging, a one and a half or a two-dimensional transducer is used to obtain sequential, parallel or related frames of elevation spaced data. The frames are compounded to derive a two-dimensional image. For three-dimensional imaging, various pluralities of two-dimensional frames of data spaced in elevation are compounded into one plurality of spaced two-dimensional frames of data. The frames of data are then used to derive a three dimensional set of data, such as by interpolation. Alternatively, the various pluralities are used to derive a three-dimensional set of data. An anisotropic filter is applied to the set of data. The anisotropic filter filters at least along the elevation dimension. In either situation, various displays may be generated from the final three-dimensional set of data. A method and system for adjustably generating two and three-dimensional representations is also disclosed. For three-dimensional imaging, at least two sets of three-dimensional data corresponding respectively to two types of Doppler or B-mode data are generated. The sets of data are then combined. An image or a quantity may be obtained from the combined data. By combining after generating the three-dimensional sets of data, the same data (sets of data) may be combined multiple times pursuant to different relationships. Thus, a user may optimize the image or quantity. Likewise, frames of data may be combined pursuant to different persistence parameters, such as different finite impulse response filter size and coefficients. The frames of data may then be re-combined pursuant to different persistence parameters. Original ultrasound data may also be used to re-generate an imaging using the same ultrasound image processes as used for a previous image.

Claims

1. A method for generating a compounded image with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring a sequence of at least three frames of ultrasound data;

(b) storing each of the at least three frames of ultrasound data separately;

(c) inputting compounding information from a user;

(d) compounding at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data in response to the compounding information, an finite impulse response and after step (b); and

(e) displaying a compounded image responsive to step (d).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises acquiring the ultrasound data with a one-dimensional transducer array.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises compounding with a finite impulse response filter.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein step (d) comprises compounding the at least three frames of ultrasound data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (d) comprises:

(d1) multiplying the at least three frames of ultrasound data by at least three respective weights with a finite impulse response filter; and

(d2) summing the weighted at least three frames of ultrasound data with the finite impulse response filter.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein step (e) comprises displaying a series of compound images, wherein each compound image in the series is responsive to a different set of the separately stored sequence of at least three frames of ultrasound data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises inputting a temporal persistence value.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (c) comprises determining a filter size and weighting coefficients in response to the temporal persistence value.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps:

(f) inputting additional compounding information after step (e);

(g) compounding the at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data in response to the additional compounding information; and

(h) displaying an additional compounded image responsive to step (g).

10. The method of claim 1 where steps (b), (d) and (e) are performed by a processor remote from the ultrasound system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) transforming the at least three frames of ultrasound data responsive to step (f); and

wherein step (d) comprises compounding transformed compressed ultrasound data responsive to step (f).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) comprises compressing the at least three frames of ultrasound data;

and

wherein step (d) comprises compounding compressed ultrasound data.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprises (g) accounting for non-linear processes in step (f) prior to step (d).

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising (f) of aligning the at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data in a spatial parameter selected from the group consisting of:

range, azimuth, rotation and combinations thereof prior to steps (d).

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining alignment information for step (f) as a function of a region of interest.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises acquiring the sequence, wherein each of the at least three frames of ultrasound image date is associated with at least one point in an elevation position different than an equivalent point in another of the at least three frames of ultrasound data.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein:

step (a) comprises acquiring the sequence wherein each of the at least three frames of ultrasound data represent a substantially same region; and

step (d) comprises temporally persisting the at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes between steps (b) and (d).

19. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises acquiring the sequence wherein each of the at least three frames of ultrasound data comprises persisted frames of ultrasound data.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (c), (d), and (e) are performed during a non-real time review.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises compounding in response to a non-linear function.

22. The method of claim 1:

wherein step (c) comprises inputting user selected alteration information;

further comprising (f) of altering the compounded ultrasound data responsive to step (d); and

wherein step (e) is responsive to step (f).

84. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) alternatively displaying another image responsive to one of the at least three frames of ultrasound data and different compounding after step (e).

85. The method of claim 84 wherein steps (e) and (f) are performed during the display of the sequence.

86. The method of claim 84 further comprising:

(g) applying different processing selected from the group consisting of;

brightness, contrast, and combinations thereof to the compounded image than to the other image.

87. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting preset persistence values.

88. The method of claim 87 further comprising:

(f) automatically adjusting one or both of brightness and contrast in response to the input of the compounding information.

89. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises selecting incremental values.

90. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) adjusting one or both of brightness and contrast of the compounded image in response to a user selectable value.

23. An ultrasound system for generating a compounded image, the system comprising:

a beamformer for acquiring a sequence of at least three frames of ultrasound data;

a memory for storing each of the at least three frames of ultrasound data separately;

a user interface for inputting compounding information;

a finite impulse response compounding processor for compounding at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data in response to the compounding information and after storage of each of the at least three frames of ultrasound data; and

a display for displaying a compounded image responsive to step (d).

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the compounding processor comprises a finite impulse response filter.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the display is operable to display a series of compound images, wherein each compound image in the series is responsive to a different set of the separately stored sequence of at least three frames of ultrasound data.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the compounding information comprises a number of frames to compound.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the user interface is operable to receive additional compounding information after the display of the compounded image;

the compounding processor is operable to compound the at least two of the at least three frames of ultrasound data in response to the additional compounding information; and

the display is operable to display an additional compounded image responsive to step (g).

28. The system of claim 23 where the memory and the compounding processor comprise a workstation remote from the ultrasound system.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes between storage and compounding.

30. A method for generating a compounded image with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring the sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data;

(b) storing a sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data representing a substantially same two-dimensional region;

(c) compounding the at least two frames of ultrasound data with a finite impulse response filter; and

(d) displaying a compounded image responsive to step (b).

wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes after step (b) and before performing step (d).

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising step (e) of acquiring the sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data with a one-dimensional transducer array.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein step (c) comprises compounding at least three frames of ultrasound data.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein step (c) comprises:

(c1) multiplying the at least two frames of ultrasound data by at least two respective weights; and

(c2) summing the weighted at least two frames of ultrasound data.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein:

step (b) comprises storing the at least two frames of ultrasound data separately; and

step (d) comprises displaying a series of compound images, wherein each compound image in the series is responsive to a different set of the separately stored sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data, where each different set is independent of at least one of the separately stored sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data of at least one of the other sets.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

(e) inputting persistence information from a user.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein step (e) comprises determining a filter size and weighting coefficients in response to the persistence information.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps:

(f) inputting additional persistence information after step (d);

(g) compounding the at least two frames of ultrasound data in response to the additional persistence information; and

(h) displaying an additional compounded image responsive to step (g).

38. The method of claim 30 where steps (b), (c) and (d) are performed by a processor,remote from the ultrasound system.

39. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

(e) transforming the at least two frames of ultrasound data; and

wherein step (c) comprises compounding transformed ultrasound data.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein step (e) comprises compressing the at lest two frames of ultrasound data.

41. The method of claim 30 further comprising (e) of aligning the at least two frames of ultrasound data in a spatial parameter selected from the group consisting of:

range, azimuth, rotation and combinations thereof prior to step (c).

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising determining alignment information for step (e) as a function of a region of interest.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein step (a) comprises acquiring the sequence, wherein each of the at least two frames of ultrasound image date is associated with at least one point in an elevation position different than an equivalent point in another of the at least two frames of ultrasound data.

44. The method of claim 30 wherein step (a) comprises acquiring the sequence wherein each of the at least two frames of ultrasound data comprises persisted frames of ultrasound data.

45. The method of claim 30 wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed during a non-real time review.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein step (b) comprises storing the sequence in a CINE memory.

47. The method of claim 30 wherein step (c) comprises compounding in response to a non-linear function.

48. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

(e) of inputting user selected alteration information selected from the group consisting of;

histogram equalization, contrast and resolution mapping function, and combinations thereof; and

(f) of altering the compounded ultrasound data resulting from step (c) in response to the user selected alteration information; and

wherein step (d) is responsive to step (f).

49. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

(e) determining a degree of correlation between the at least two frames of ultrasound data; and

wherein step (c) is responsive to the correlation.

50. An ultrasound system for generating a compounded image, the system comprising:

a beamformer for acquiring the sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data;

a memory for storing a sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data representing a substantially same two-dimensional region;

a finite impulse response filter for compounding the at least two frames of ultrasound data; and

a display for displaying a compounded image responsive to an output of the finite impulse response filter;

wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes after storage of the sequence and compounding.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein:

the memory is operable to store the at least two frames of ultrasound data separately; and

wherein the display is operable to display a series of compound images, wherein each compound image in the series is responsive to a different set of the separately stored sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data, where each different set is independent of at least one of the separately stored sequence of at least two frames of ultrasound data of at least one of the other sets.

52. The system of claim 50 further comprising a user interface operable to receive compounding input information selected from the group consisting of:

a filter size and weighting coefficients.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein:

the user interface is operable to receive additional compounding input information after the display of the compounded image;

the filter is operable to compounding the at least two frames of ultrasound data in response to the additional compounding input information; and

the display is operable to display an additional compounded image responsive to the additional compounding input information.

54. A method for generating a compounded image with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data, each two-dimensional frame of ultrasound data associated with a different elevation position than each other two-dimensional frame of data;

(b) determining a degree of correlation between the first and second frames of ultrasound data;

(c) compounding the first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data less if the degree of correlation is low and more if the degree of correlation is high;

(d) displaying a compounded image responsive to step (c).

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

(e) transforming the first and second frames of ultrasound data; and

wherein step (c) comprises compounding the transformed ultrasound data.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein step (e) comprises compressing the first and second frames of ultrasound data.

57. The method of claim 54 further comprising (e) of aligning the first and second frames of ultrasound data in a spatial parameter selected from the group consisting of:

range, azimuth, rotation and combinations thereof prior to step (c).

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising determining an alignment correlation;

wherein step (e) is a function of the alignment correlation.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising determining the alignment correlation as a function of a region of interest.

60. The method of claim 54 wherein step (c) comprises compounding with a finite impulse response filter.

61. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

(e) storing the first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data;

(f) inputting user persistence information;

wherein step (c) is responsive to the user persistence information and occurs at least 200 milliseconds after step (a).

62. The method of claim 54 wherein step (b) comprises calculating a minimum sum of absolute differences.

63. The method of claim 54 wherein step (c) comprises:

(c1) compounding more as selected from the group consisting of;

using more evenly distributed weights, including additional two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data, and combinations thereof; and

(c2) compounding less as selected from the group consisting of;

weighting the second two-dimensional frame of ultrasound data more than other frames of two-dimensional ultrasound data, including fewer two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data, and combinations thereof.

64. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

(e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) for at least three sets of frames of ultrasound data; and

wherein step (c) comprises interpolating the degree of correlation for one of the at least three sets from the degree of correlation from another one of the at least three sets.

65. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

(e) inputting a user selected correlation coefficient threshold.

66. The method of claim 54 wherein step (b) comprises determining the degree of correlation from data selected from the group consisting of:

data associated with a near field image region and data prior to focal gain compensation.

67. An ultrasound system for generating a compounded image, the system comprising:

first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data, each two-dimensional frame of ultrasound data associated with a different elevation position than each other two-dimensional frame of data;

a compounding processor for determining a degree of correlation between the first and second frames of ultrasound data and for compounding the first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data less if the degree of correlation is low and more if the degree of correlation is high; and

a display for displaying a compounded image responsive to the output of the compounding processor.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the compounding processor is operable to compound compressed ultrasound data.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein step the compounding processor comprises a finite impulse response filter.

70. The system of claim 67 further comprising:

a memory operable to store the first and second two-dimensional frames of ultrasound data; and

a user interface operable to receive user persistence information;

wherein the compound processor is responsive to the user persistence information and compounds at least 200 milliseconds after storage in the memory.

71. A method for generating a compounded image with an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transforming first and second frames of ultrasound data;

(b) compounding the first and second frames of ultrasound data;

(c) decompressing a compounded frame of ultrasound data responsive to step (b); and

(d) displaying an image responsive to the compounded frame of ultrasound data.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein step (a) comprises transforming pursuant to at least one step of JPEG compression steps and step (c) comprises decompressing pursuant to at least one step of JPEG decompression steps.

73. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

(e) transforming the compressed first and second frames of ultrasound data as a function of a pure transform operation in step (a) prior to step (b).

74. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

(e) inputting persistence information from a user;

wherein step (b) is responsive to the temporal persistence information.

75. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

(e) determining a filter size and at least one weighting coefficient as a function of user provided compounding information;

wherein step (b) is responsive to the filter size and the at least one weighting coefficient.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein step (b) comprises compounding with a finite impulse response filter.

77. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

(e) determining a degree of correlation relating the first and second frames of ultrasound image; and

wherein step (b) is responsive to the degree of correlation.

78. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

(e) acquiring the first and second frames of ultrasound data;

(f) storing the first and second frames of ultrasound data separately;

wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes between steps (f) and (d).

79. The method of claim 77 wherein steps (b), (c), and (d) are performed during a non-real time review.

80. An ultrasound system for generating a compounded image, the system comprising:

first and second frames of transformed ultrasound data;

a compounding processor for compounding the first and second frames of ultrasound data and for decompressing a compounded frame of ultrasound data; and

a display for displaying an image responsive to the compounded frame of ultrasound data.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the compounding processor is operable to perform JPEG decompression.

82. The system of claim 80 further comprising:

a user interface for receiving input persistence information;

wherein the compounded frame of ultrasound data is responsive to the persistence information.

83. The system of claim 80 further comprising:

a beamformer for acquiring the first and second frames of ultrasound data; and

a memory for storing the first and second frames of ultrasound data separately;

wherein at least 200 milliseconds passes between storing and compounding the first and second frames of ultrasound data.