System and method for display plane visualization through an ultrasound imaging volume
A method and system for capturing and processing high-resolution three-dimensional medical images for oblique plane ultrasound generation and visualization through an ultrasound volume. Combining two three dimensional ultrasound datasets taken at different angles, each comprising a plurality of 2D ultrasound image planes, into a single combined dataset enables visualization of the ultrasound data at an oblique display plane through the volume being imaged in a standard computing system with an image processor.
1 . A computer-implemented imaging method comprising:
acquiring a first plurality of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images through an ultrasound volume, the first plurality of 2D ultrasound images normal to a first scanning axis, to provide a first three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) dataset;
acquiring a second plurality of 2D ultrasound images through the same ultrasound volume, the second plurality of 2D ultrasound images normal to a second scanning axis, the second scanning axis at an offset angle to the first scanning axis, to provide a second 3DUS dataset that is angularly offset relative to the first 3DUS dataset, the second 3DUS dataset overlapping the first 3DUS dataset;
selecting a display plane through the ultrasound volume, the display plane having a display angle relative to the first scanning axis and the second scanning axis;
constructing a display image sliced through the ultrasound volume on the display plane by calculating pixel intensity for a plurality of pixels at a location in the display image, the pixel intensity calculated using pixel weighting of pixels from the first 3DUS dataset in the location and from the second angularly offset 3DUS dataset in the same location, the calculated pixel intensity based on the display angle relative to the first scanning axis and the second scanning axis; and
displaying the display image on a graphical user interface.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein constructing the display image at the display plane comprises using the same pixel weighting algorithm for calculating pixel intensity for all of the plurality of pixels in the image at the display plane.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset angle is 90°.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer has a minimum penetration depth of 30 millimeters (mm).
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein pixel weighting for each of the plurality of pixels in the display image at the display plane comprises using a spherical-weighted algorithm.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising normalizing pixel intensity values in the display plane by comparing pixel intensity at a coordinate location (x, y, z) in the first 3DUS and the second 3DUS and adjusting the pixel intensity in the display plane such that the pixel intensity for the first 3DUS dataset and the second 3DUS dataset are normalized.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first 3DUS dataset and the second 3DUS dataset are registered and fused using a rigid registration and voxel-based algorithm.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2D ultrasound images contain intensity information from both in-plane and out-of-plane directions.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of 2D ultrasound images and second plurality of 2D ultrasound images are acquired with one or more of a linear transducer, a curvilinear transducer, a phased-array transducer, or a transducer that emits a single or multiple ultrasound wavelengths.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a plurality of images at the same time, wherein each of the plurality of images is constructed at a different display plane through the ultrasound volume.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first scanning axis and the second scanning axis have a length of from 10 to 300 millimeters (mm).
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the 2D ultrasound images are acquired at a consistent step interval.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step interval is a spatial interval or a temporal interval.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each acquired 2D ultrasound image has a volumetric plane width greater than the step interval.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step interval is a spatial interval and is from 1 to 10 frames per millimeter (mm).
16 . An imaging system comprising:
an ultrasound transducer;
a three-dimensional (3D) imaging device comprising a translation mechanism that positions and translates the ultrasound transducer along a first scanning axis and a second scanning axis to collect a first three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) dataset normal to the first scanning axis and a second 3DUS dataset normal to the second scanning axis, the second 3DUS dataset being angularly offset relative to the first 3DUS dataset;
an imaging device control system that controls translation of the transducer;
an image processor that:
selects a display plane through an ultrasound volume, the display having a display angle relative to the first scanning axis and the second scanning axis; and,
constructs a display image sliced through the ultrasound volume on a display plane by calculating pixel intensity for a plurality of pixels at a location in the display image, the pixel intensity calculated using pixel weighting of pixels from the first 3DUS dataset in the location and the second angularly offset 3DUS dataset in the same location, the calculated pixel intensity based on the display angle relative to the first scanning axis and the second scanning axis; and
a graphical user interface for displaying the display image.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is a handheld ultrasound transducer connected to the translation mechanism.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the image processor registers the first 3DUS dataset and the second 3DUS dataset using a rigid registration and voxel-based algorithm.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein transducer location information is provided from the imaging device control system to the image processor and used in registering the first 3DUS dataset and the second 3DUS dataset.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is one of a linear transducer, a curvilinear transducer, a phased-array transducer, or a transducer that emits a single or multiple ultrasound wavelengths.