Setting a sagittal view in an ultrasound system

1. An ultrasound system, comprising:

an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output ultrasound data;

a processor implemented in the ultrasound system and coupled to the ultrasound probe, the processor configured to:

form volume data based on the ultrasound data output from the ultrasound probe;

set a reference slice on the volume data based on input information of a user;

set a reference point on the reference slice based on the input information;

set a window to encompass the reference point on the reference slice;

change positions of the reference slice, the reference point, and the window by predetermined intervals in a first direction to thereby calculate first reference values for pixels within the window;

change the positions of the reference slice, the reference point, and the window to a position corresponding to a maximum first reference value;

change an angle of the reference slice and the window by predetermined angles with respect to the reference point to thereby calculate second reference values for pixels within the window;

change the angle of the reference slice and the window to an angle corresponding to a maximum second reference value with respect to the reference point; and

set a sagittal view for measuring a thickness of a nuchal translucency (NT) of a fetus on the volume data based on the reference slice positioned and angled according to the first reference values and the second reference values; and

a display device implemented in the ultrasound system, coupled to the processor, and configured to display the sagittal view including the window,

wherein the processor is configured to:

move the reference slice, the reference point, and the window to the first direction by the predetermined intervals within the volume data to thereby calculate the first reference values;

detect the maximum first reference value from the first reference values;

move the reference slice, the reference point and the window to the position corresponding to the maximum first reference value;

rotate the reference slice and the window by the predetermined angles with respect to the reference point to thereby calculate the second reference values;

detect the maximum second reference value from the second reference values;

rotate the reference slice and the window to the angle corresponding to the maximum second reference value to thereby set the sagittal view on the volume data; and

calculate a gradient magnitude and an orientation for pixels within the window, form a histogram between the gradient magnitude and the orientation, detect a peak in the histogram, and set the detected peak as the first or second reference value.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , further comprising a user input receiver implemented in the ultrasound system, coupled to the processing unit, and configured to receive the input information.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the input information comprises:

a first input information for setting the reference slice on the volume data; and

a second input information for setting the reference point on the reference slice.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect brightness values of pixels within the window, calculate a mean value of the brightness values, and set the mean value as the first or second reference value.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

form an ultrasound image corresponding to the sagittal view based on the volume data;

detect a contour of the NT within the window at the ultrasound image; and

measure thickness of the NT based on the detected contour.