System and method for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from ultrasound images

• US 20030117393A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Corporate Research Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bascle, Benedicte, Sauer, Frank, Khamene, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52034 Data rate converters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52036 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52068 Stereoscopic displays; Three-dimensional displays; Pseudo 3D displays G01S15/8993 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52084 related to particular user interfaces special user input means for ultrasonic medical diagnostic devices A61B8/467

Abstract

A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images includes deriving a 2D image of an object; defining a target region within said 2D image; defining a volume scan period; during the volume scan period, deriving further 2D images of the target region and storing respective pose information for the further 2D images; and reconstructing a 3D image representation for the target region by utilizing the 2D images and the respective pose information.

Claims

1. A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, comprising:

deriving a 2D image of an object;

defining a target region within said 2D image;

deriving further 2D images having respective poses and including said target region; and

reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region from said 2D images and said respective poses.

2. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of defining a target region comprises a step of searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

3. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 2, wherein said step of searching said image comprises a step of utilizing a search algorithm for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

4. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 3, wherein said step of utilizing a search algorithm comprises a step of de-noising said image around its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

5. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 4, wherein said step of de-noising comprises a step of median filtering for identifying a potential target region.

6. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of de-noising comprises a step of median filtering for identifying a potential target region.

7. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 4, wherein said step of searching said image comprises a step of utilizing a Hough transform for verifying a potential target region.

20. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for defining a target region comprises a pointer.

21. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for defining a target region comprises an image line.

8. A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, comprising:

deriving a 2D image of an object;

defining a target region within said 2D image,

defining a volume scan period;

during said volume scan period, deriving further 2D images of said target region and storing respective pose information for said further 2D images; and

reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said 2D images and said respective pose information.

9. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of defining a target region comprises semi-automatic steps.

10. A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, comprising:

deriving a 2D image of an object;

defining a target region within said 2D image, said target region being less than the whole of said 2D image;

defining the start and end of a volume scan,

deriving further 2D images of said target region during a period between said start and end of said volume scan, said further 2D images having respective poses;

storing pose information for said respective poses;

defining the end of said volume scan; and

reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said said 2D images and said respective pose information.

11. A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound Doppler images, comprising:

deriving a 2D Doppler image of an object;

detecting flow regions exhibiting predetermined flow characteristics;

defining a target region within said 2D image in correspondence with said flow regions;

defining a volume scan period;

during said volume scan period, deriving further 2D images of said target region and storing respective pose information for said further 2D images; and

reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said 2D images and said respective pose information.

12. A method for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound Doppler images, comprising:

deriving a 2D Doppler image of an object;

automatically detecting flow regions exhibiting predetermined flow characteristics;

automatically defining a target region within said 2D image in correspondence with said flow regions;

defining a volume scan period;

during said volume scan period, deriving further 2D images of said target region and storing respective pose information for said further 2D images; and

reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said 2D images and said respective pose information.

13. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 12, wherein said step of automatically defining a target region comprises a step of automatically searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

14. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of automatically searching said image comprises a step of utilizing a search algorithm for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

15. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 14, wherein said step of utilizing a search algorithm comprises a step of de-noising said image around its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

16. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 15, wherein said step of de-noising comprises a step of median filtering for identifying a potential target region.

17. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 15, wherein said step of de-noising comprises a step of median filtering for identifying a potential target region.

18. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of searching said image comprises a step of utilizing a Hough transform for verifying a potential target region.

19. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, comprising:

means for deriving a 2D image of an object;

means for determining and storing respective pose information for a 2D image derived by said means for deriving a 2D image;

means for defining the start and end of a volume scan, said means for defining being coupled to said means for deriving a 2D image;

means for defining a target region within said 2D image, said target region being less than the whole of said 2D image, wherein said means for deriving a 2D image is coupled to said means for defining a target region, and derives further 2D images of said target region between said start and said end of said volume scan, said 2D images having respective poses; and

means for reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said said 2D images and said respective pose information.

22. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, comprising:

means for deriving a 2D image of an object;

means for defining a target region within said 2D image;

means for defining a volume scan period;

means for storing respective pose information for further 2D images of said target region derived during said volume scan period by said means for deriving a 2D image; and

means for reconstructing a 3D image representation for said target region by utilizing said 2D images and said respective pose information.

23. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 22, wherein said means for defining a target region comprises processor means for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

24. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 23, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a search algorithm for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

25. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 23, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a search algorithm for de-noising said image around its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

26. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 23, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a search algorithm for de-noising said image around its centerline, by using a median filter, for identifying a potential target region.

27. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 23, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a Hough transform for verifying a potential target region.