Systems and methods for adaptive volume imaging

• US 8,805,047 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Qinglin, Pagoulatos, Nikolaos
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/741,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 382/131
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0037 Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/255 Detecting or recognising potential candidate objects based on visual cues, e.g. shapes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/03 Recognition of patterns in medical or anatomical images

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide volume imaging by implementing survey and target imaging modes are shown. According to embodiments, a survey imaging mode is implemented to provide a volume image of a relatively large survey area. A target of interest is preferably identified within the survey area for use in a target imaging mode. Embodiments implement a target imaging mode to provide a volume image of a relatively small target area corresponding to the identified target of interest. The target imaging mode preferably adapts the beamforming, volume field of view, and/or other signal and image processing algorithms to the target area. In operation according to embodiments, the target imaging mode provides a volume image of a target area with improved volume rate and image quality.

Claims

1. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer;

a processor operable under control of an instruction set to generate images using information acquired by the ultrasound transducer, wherein the processor is configured to

generate a survey image from a survey volume image data set;

receive an indication of an item of interest in the survey image;

adjust one or more imaging parameters based on the indicated item of interest; and

generate a target image from a target volume image data set that is obtained with the one or more adjusted imaging parameters,

wherein the one or more adjusted imaging parameters cause the target image to cover only the indicated item of interest.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a transmit focus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a focal depth.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes an increased beam density.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a wobbling angle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter narrows a field of view of the target volume image data set compared with the sample volume image data set.

7. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer;

a processor operable under control of an instruction set to generate images using information acquired by the ultrasound transducer, wherein the processor is configured to

generate a survey image from a survey volume image data set;

receive an indication of an item of interest in the survey image;

adjust one or more imaging parameters based on the indicated item of interest; and

generate a target image from a target volume image data set volume set that is obtained with the one or more adjusted imaging parameters, wherein the one or more adjusted imaging parameters cause the target image to center the identified item of interest in the target image.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a transmit focus.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a focal depth.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes an increased beam density.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein an adjusted imaging parameter includes a wobbling angle.

12. The system of claim 7, an adjusted imaging parameter narrows a field of view of the target volume image data set compared with the sample volume image data set.