TRANSMISSIVE IMAGING AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS

1 - 405 . (canceled)

406 . A method, comprising:

accessing a plurality of volumetric images of a subject calculated using a plurality of measurements of the subject, the plurality of measurements resulting at least in part from detection of ultrasound radiation by an ultrasound imaging device, the plurality of volumetric images representing a substantially same imaged area;

combining the plurality of volumetric images of the subject to form a fused volumetric image of the subject;

applying at least one image analysis technique to the fused volumetric image to identify at least one shape in the fused volumetric image;

updating the fused volumetric image to obtain at least one updated volumetric image that shows the identified at least one shape when displayed; and

displaying three-dimensionally the at least one updated volumetric image.

407 . The method of claim 406 , wherein the fused volumetric image comprises an attenuation value for each of a first voxel and second voxel in the fused volumetric image, wherein the attenuation value for the first voxel is indicative of an amount of attenuation of an ultrasound signal passing through the first voxel.

408 . The method of claim 406 , wherein the fused volumetric image comprises a speed of sound value for each of a first voxel and a second voxel in the fused volumetric image, wherein the speed of sound value for the first voxel is indicative of a speed of an ultrasound signal passing through the first voxel.

409 . The method of claim 406 , wherein the at least one updated volumetric image comprises multiple time-dependent volumetric images of the subject, further comprising applying stereoscopic conversion to the multiple time-dependent volumetric images to obtain multiple stereoscopic images including a first stereoscopic image and a second stereoscopic image, and wherein said displaying comprises displaying the multiple stereoscopic images to a viewer in a time-dependent manner.

410 . The method of claim 409 , wherein said displaying comprises presenting the first stereoscopic image and the second stereoscopic image with different polarizations.

411 . The method of claim 409 , further comprising: in response to said displaying, receiving input from a viewer specifying an update to how the first stereoscopic image and the second stereoscopic image are displayed; and updating how the first stereoscopic image and the second stereoscopic image are displayed three dimensionally based on the received input.

412 . The method of claim 406 , wherein combining the plurality of volumetric images comprises associating a first visual cue to values in the fused volumetric image originating from a first of the plurality of volumetric images and associating a second visual cue, different from the first visual cue, to values in the fused volumetric image originating from a second of the plurality of volumetric images.

413 . A method of processing ultrasound data, comprising:

forming a fused volumetric ultrasound image from a plurality of volumetric ultrasound images;

identifying a shape in the fused volumetric ultrasound image and generating a modified fused volumetric image identifying the shape in the fused volumetric image; and

three-dimensionally displaying the modified fused volumetric image.

414 . A method, comprising:

displaying a volumetric image of a subject three dimensionally via a display;

in response to receiving a selection, extracting and displaying via the display a 3D subvolume of the volumetric image and maintaining registration between the 3D subvolume and the volumetric image;

receiving input identifying at least one target point in the 3D subvolume corresponding to at least one location in the subject; and

subsequent to receiving the input identifying the at least one target point, initiating a process of applying high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) energy to the at least one location in the subject.

415 . The method of claim 414 , wherein said receiving input comprises receiving the input from a user at least in part by detecting motion of the user and/or or motion of a pointing device of the user through the 3D subvolume.

416 . The method of claim 414 , wherein the at least one target point comprises a plurality of target points in the 3D subvolume corresponding to a plurality of locations along a path through the subject.

417 . The method of claim 414 , further comprising calculating at least one HIFU control parameter controlling application of the HIFU energy to the at least one location in the subject.

418 . The method of claim 417 , wherein calculating the at least one HIFU control parameter is performed based at least in part on a specified amount of energy and/or power to apply to the at least one location in the subject.

419 . The method of claim 418 , further comprising receiving input from a user specifying the specified amount of energy and/or power to apply to the at least one location in the subject.

420 . The method of claim 417 , wherein the at least one HIFU control parameter specifies how to focus the HIFU energy to obtain a focused HIFU beam.

421 . The method of claim 420 , wherein performing said calculating comprises using a beamforming technique.

422 . The method of claim 420 , wherein performing said calculating comprises using a time-reversal technique.

423 . The method of claim 414 , wherein displaying the volumetric image comprises applying stereoscopic conversion to the volumetric image to obtain a first stereoscopic image and a second stereoscopic image and displaying three-dimensionally, via the 3D display, the first stereoscopic image and the second stereoscopic image.