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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.

Inventors: Frank Sauer, Ali Khamene, Benedicte Bascle
Original Assignee: Siemens Corporate Reseach Inc.
Primary Examiner: Kimbinh T. Nguyen
Attorney: Michele J. Conover
Current U.S. Classification: 345/419; 345/420; 345/424; 600/447

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Citations

Cited PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US5787889Feb 21, 1997Aug 4, 1998University of WashingtonUltrasound imaging with real time 3D image reconstruction and visualization
US5810007Jul 26, 1995Sep 22, 1998Associates of the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, Inc.Ultrasound localization and image fusion for the treatment of prostate cancer
US5928151Aug 22, 1997Jul 27, 1999Acuson CorporationUltrasonic system and method for harmonic imaging in three dimensions
US5964727Dec 24, 1997Oct 12, 1999Vidamed, Inc.Medical probe device and method
US6047080Jun 19, 1996Apr 4, 2000Arch Development CorporationMethod and apparatus for three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary vessels from angiographic images
US6288704Nov 9, 1999Sep 11, 2001Vega, Vista, Inc.Motion detection and tracking system to control navigation and display of object viewers
US6755787Nov 19, 2002Jun 29, 2004Acuson CorporationMedical diagnostic ultrasound system and method for versatile processing

Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US7574026Jan 23, 2004Aug 11, 2009Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Method for the 3d modeling of a tubular structure
US8238642Nov 20, 2008Aug 7, 2012General Electric CompanyMethods and apparatus for measuring 3D dimensions on 2D images

Claims

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

deriving a 2D image of an object, together with corresponding pose information;

defining a 2D target region within said 2D image, the 2D target region having a user-defined size and location;

defining further a local target volume within the object, the target volume having a user-defined size and location;

deriving a set of further 2D images having respective poses and intersecting said local target volume, said set of further 2D images scanning through the local target volume; and
reconstructing a 3D image representation of said local target volume from said set of 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 do-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 3, wherein said step of searching said image comprises a step of utilizing a Hough transform for verifying a potential target region.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining a 2D target region further comprises the step of:

marking a 2D location in the image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the 2D target region is rectangular.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the lateral extent of said 3D target volume is determined by the 2D target region, and the depth of said 3D target volume is determined involving the steps of

moving the ultrasound transducer used for said deriving of said 2D images into a start position,

moving said ultrasound transducer into an end position,

wherein the movement is essentially perpendicular to the 2D image planes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining a 2D target region further comprises the steps of:

predefining a target to be found in the image;

automatically searching for targets in the image; and

if a target is found, marking the target.

11. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of defining a 2D target region includes identifying a target in said 2D image.

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

deriving a 2D image of an object;

defining a 2D target region within said 2D image, the 2D target region having a user-defined size and location;

defining further a local target volume within the object, the target volume having a user-defined size and location;

defining a volume scan period;
during said volume scan period, deriving a set of further 2D images of said target region that intersect said local target volume, said set of further 2D images scanning through the local target volume, and storing respective pose information for said set of further 2D images; and
reconstructing a 3D image representation of said local target volume by utilizing said set of 2D images and said respective pose information.

13. A method for local 3D reconstruction as recited in claim 12, wherein said steps of defining a target region comprises semi-automatic steps.

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

deriving a 2D image of an object;

defining a 2D target region within said 2D image, said 2D target region being significantly smaller than the 2D image and having a user-defined size and location;

defining further a local target volume within the object, the target volume having a user-defined size and location;

defining the start and end of a volume scan;
deriving a set of further 2D images of said target region during a period between said start and end of said volume scan, said set of further 2D images intersecting said local target volume and scanning through the local target volume, said set of further 2D images having respective poses; and
reconstructing a 3D image representation fey of said local target volume by utilizing said set of 2D images and said respective pose information.

15. 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 2D target region within said 2D image in correspondence with said flow regions, the 2D target region having a user-defined size and location;

defining further a local target volume within the object, the target volume having a user-defined size and location;
defining a volume scan period;
during said volume scan period, deriving a set of further 2D images of said 2D target region and storing respective pose information for said set of further 2D images, said set of further 2D images intersecting said local target volume and scanning through said local target volume; and
reconstructing a 3D image representation of said local target volume by utilizing said set of 2D images and said respective pose information.

16. 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 2D target region within said 2D image, the 2D target region having a user-defined size and location;

means for defining further a local target volume within said object, the target volume having a user-defined size and location;

means for defining a volume scan period;
means for defining size and location of 2D target region;
means for defining size and location of 3D target volume;
means for storing respective pose information for a set of further 2D images of said target region derived during said volume scan period by said means for deriving a 2D image said set of further 2D images intersecting said local target volume and scanning through the local target volume; and
means for reconstructing a 3D image representation of said local target volume by utilizing said set of 2D images and said respective pose information.

17. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional reconstruction as recited in claim 16, wherein said means for defining a target region comprises processor means for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

18. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 17, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a search algorithm for searching said image along its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

19. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 17, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a search algorithm for de-noising said image around its centerline for identifying a potential target region.

20. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 17, 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.

21. Apparatus for local 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction as recited in claim 17, wherein processor means for searching utilizes a Hough transform for verifying a potential target region.

22. The method of claim 7 wherein a pointing device is used to mark the location in the image.

23. The method of claim 7 wherein said marked 2D location is used in conjunction with said corresponding pose information to mark a corresponding 3D location.

24. The method of claim 7 wherein a user can adjust the size of the 2D target region.

25. The method of claim 7 wherein the 2D target region is centered at said marked 2D location.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the pointing device is a computer mouse.

27. The method of claim 22 where the pointing device is the tracked head movement of the user.

28. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of defining a 2D target region further comprises the step of:

determining width and height of said 2D target region.

29. The method of claim 8 wherein said 3D target volume has a rectangular cross-section, and height and width of said 3D target volume are identical to the height and width of said 2D target region.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein width and/or height are predefined.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the user sets width and/or height according to the size of the target.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein an automatic algorithm sets width and/or height according to the size of the target.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the depth of said 3D target volume is pro-set or pro-selected.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the depth of said 3D target volume is set proportional to its height or width.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the user sets the depth of said 3D target volume according to the size of the target.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein an algorithm sets the depth of said 3D target volume according to the size of the target.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein said 3D target volume is centered at said marked 3D location.

38. The method of claim 9 wherein a trigger device is used to identify said start and end positions.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said trigger device is a computer mouse.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein said trigger device is a foot switch.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein said trigger device is located at the transducer.

42. The method of claim 10 wherein a user can adjust the size of the 2D target region.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of:

triggering a start and end for a volume scan of the target;

building a 3D target volume from the volume scan.

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