Medical diagnostic ultrasound signal extraction
Ultrasound signal information is detected from a sequence of images. A robust automated delineation of the border of the fan or ultrasound signal information in echocardiographic or other ultrasound image sequence is provided. The processor implemented delineation uses a single image or a sequence of images to better identify ultrasound signal data. Variation through a sequence generally identifies the signal area. Projecting the filtered variation information to two likely directions identifies approximate edge locations along the sides of the border. Robust regression fits lines to the edges to find accurate border locations. The bottom of the border is identified with a histogram of the variation information as a function of radius from an intersection of the fit lines.
1 . A method for detecting ultrasound image information from images, the method comprising:
obtaining a first image including ultrasound information in a first portion and other information in a second portion;
processing the first image with a processor; and
identifying the first portion with the processor based on the processing.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first image comprises obtaining a previously displayed image from an imaging system, the processor being part of a workstation separate from the imaging system.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining comprises obtaining a video of images including the first image and additional images.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein processing and identifying comprise automatic detecting of the first portion, the ultrasound information being data representing an ultrasonically scanned region.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining comprises obtaining a sequence of images including the first image, and wherein processing comprises locating spatial positions associated with intensity variation as a function of time.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein processing comprises calculating an inter-image intensity variation for spatial locations throughout the sequence.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the processing is performed on an upper two thirds of the images.
8 . The method of claim 5 wherein processing comprises detecting locations associated with a transition along first and second angles associated with possible first and second borders of the first portion.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the first and second angles are about plus or minus 30-60 degrees where 0 degrees is horizontal relative to the first image.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein processing comprises:
identifying points along at least one edge of the first portion; and
fitting a line along the at least one edge.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein fitting the line comprises applying a robust regression.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises identifying at least two straight edges, and wherein processing comprises locating a radius of the first portion from an intersection of the two straight lines, a bottom of the first portion being defined by a radial curve at the radius.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein locating the radius comprises populating a histogram as a function of radi from the intersection and identifying the radius where the histogram has a decreasing value.
14 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying an image analysis algorithm to the first portion through a sequence of images.
15 . In a computer readable storage media having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for detecting ultrasound signal information from a sequence of images, the images including the ultrasound signal information and other information comprising textual, background or textual and background information, data for the image being without a data indication distinguishing the ultrasound signal information from the other information, the storage media comprising instructions for:
identifying a border for the ultrasound signal information in the images; and
extracting the ultrasound signal information within the border.
16 . The instructions of claim 15 wherein the ultrasound signal information represents echoes from a scanned region; and
further comprising:
applying an image analysis algorithm to the extracted ultrasound signal information and not applying the image analysis algorithm to the other information.
17 . The instructions of claim 15 wherein identifying the border comprises:
locating spatial positions associated with intensity variation as a function of time;
detecting locations associated with a transition in intensity variation along first and second angles associated with possible first and second edges of the border;
fitting first and second lines along the first and second edges as a function of the locations; and
locating a radius from an intersection of the first and second lines corresponding to a curved bottom edge of the border.
18 . The instructions of claim 17 wherein:
locating spatial positions comprises calculating an inter-image intensity variation for each spatial location in an upper two thirds of the images throughout the sequence;
detecting locations comprises detecting along the first and second angles are about plus or minus 30-60 degrees where 0 degrees is horizontal, the first and second angles being perpendicular to the possible first and second edges, respectively;
fitting comprises applying a robust regression; and
locating the radius comprises populating a histogram as a function of radi from the intersection and identifying the radius where the histogram has a decreasing value.
19 . A system for detecting ultrasound signal information from a sequence of images, the system comprising:
a memory operable to store a sequence of images, each image including the ultrasound signal information and other information in different first and second portions, respectively;
a processor operable to extract the ultrasound signal information from within a border.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the ultrasound signal information represents echoes from a scanned region; and
wherein the processor is operable to apply an image analysis algorithm to the extracted ultrasound signal information and not applying the image analysis algorithm to other information from outside the border.
21 . The system of claim 19 wherein the processor is operable to:
locate spatial positions associated with intensity variation as a function of time in the sequence of images;
detect locations associated with a transition in intensity variation along first and second angles associated with possible first and second edges of the border;
fitting first and second lines along the first and second edges as a function of the locations; and
locating a radius from an intersection of the first and second lines corresponding to a curved bottom edge of the border.
22 . A method for detecting ultrasound image information from images, the method comprising:
obtaining a first medical image including ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, nuclear, positron emission, or angiography information in a first portion and other information in a second portion;
processing the first image with a processor; and
identifying the first portion with the processor based on the processing.
23 . The method of claim 22 wherein the first medical image includes magnetic resonance information in the first portion.
24 . The method of claim 22 wherein the first medical image includes computed tomography information in the first portion.
25 . The method of claim 22 wherein the first medical image includes nuclear information in the first portion.
26 . The method of claim 22 wherein the first medical image includes positron emission information in the first portion.
27 . The method of claim 22 wherein the first medical image includes angiography information in the first portion.