Performing image process and size measurement upon a three-dimensional ultrasound image in an ultrasound system

1. An ultrasound system, comprising:

a user input receiver configured to receive input information for setting at least one seed point on a two-dimensional ultrasound image from a user;

an ultrasound data acquirer configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object including a plurality of objects of interest and output ultrasound data; and

a processor in communication with the ultrasound data acquirer, the processor being configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, form the two-dimensional ultrasound image and a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on volume data, set the at least one seed point on the two-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information, detect at least one object of interest corresponding to the at least one seed point set on the two-dimensional ultrasound image from the three-dimensional ultrasound image, and perform an image process and a size measurement of the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image,

wherein the detection of the at least one object of interest is performed by connecting a first edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a first slice to a second edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a second slice, based on a result of comparison between a predetermined threshold value and a location difference between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first slice and the second slice are slices that are set on the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

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

perform an edge detection of the at least one object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image; and

perform a segmentation of the at least one object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the detected edges.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to perform the image process for applying different colors to the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

4. A method of performing an image process and a size measurement upon a three-dimensional ultrasound image, comprising:

a) transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals to and from a target object including a plurality of objects of interest and output ultrasound data;

b) forming volume data based on the ultrasound data;

c) forming a two-dimensional ultrasound image and a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data;

d) receiving input information for setting at least one seed point on the two-dimensional ultrasound image;

e) setting the at least one seed point on the two-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information;

f) detecting at least one object of interest corresponding to the at least one seed point set on the two-dimensional ultrasound image from the three-dimensional ultrasound image; and

g) performing an image process and a size measurement of the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image,

wherein the step f) is performed by connecting a first edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a first slice to a second edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a second slice, based on a comparison between a predetermined threshold value and a location difference between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first slice and the second slice are slices that are set on the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step f) comprises:

performing edge detection of the at least one object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image; and

performing segmentation of the at least one object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the detected edges.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step g) comprises:

performing the image process for applying different colors to the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions, execution of which causes a processor to perform following acts:

a) acquiring ultrasound data for a target object including a plurality of objects of interest;

b) forming volume data based on the ultrasound data;

c) forming a two-dimensional ultrasound image and a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data;

d) receiving input information for setting at least one seed point on the two-dimensional ultrasound image;

e) setting the at east one seed point on the two-dimensional ultrasound image based on the input information;

f) detecting at least one object of interest corresponding to the at least one seed point set on the two-dimensional ultrasound image from the three-dimensional ultrasound image; and

g) performing an image process and a size measurement of the detected object of interest upon the three-dimensional ultrasound image,

wherein the step f) is performed by connecting a first edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a first slice to a second edge of the at least one object of interest corresponding to a second slice, based on a comparison between a predetermined threshold value and a location difference between the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first slice and the second slice are slices that are set on the three-dimensional ultrasound image.