Method and device for characterizing at least one object depicted in an ultrasound image
Disclosed is a method and a device for characterizing, for example identifying at least one object depicted in a raster image ( 1 ) or determining the speed of sound of the object, the raster image ( 1 ) having pixel rows and pixel columns. In order to efficiently and accurately characterize the object, the invention provides that several pixel columns (Cn) are selected and each of the selected pixel columns (Cn) is converted into a line profile (L), the amplitude of the line profile (L) representing the value (V) of image information of selected pixels of the respective selected pixel column (Cn), wherein the method comprises determining characteristics of the line profiles (L) and using the characteristics to characterize the at least one object depicted in the raster image ( 1 ).
1. A method for characterizing at least one object depicted in a raster image, the raster image being an ultrasound image having pixel rows and pixel columns,
wherein at least one pixel column is selected and the at least one pixel column selected is converted into a selected line profile, an amplitude of the selected line profile representing a value of image information of selected pixels of the at least one pixel column selected, and
wherein the method comprises:
determining characteristics of the selected line profile and using the characteristics to characterize the at least one object depicted in the raster image, wherein the characteristics of the selected line profile are values of the selected line profile indicating the position of an edge of the at least one object, among values of the selected line profile, with a greatest distance from a predetermined position and having a predetermined relationship to a threshold value; and
processing the selected line profile to form a processed line profile, the processed line profile having an enhanced signal to noise ratio compared to the respective selected line profile, wherein processing the selected line profile to form the processed line profile includes determining individual offset values for selected amplitudes of the selected line profile and subtracting the individual offset values from respective amplitudes prior to determining the characteristics of the selected line profile to create the processed line profile,
wherein the predetermined relationship includes zero crossings of the processed line profile.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining different aspects of the processed line profile by performing signal decomposition of the processed line profile.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying boundaries of a plurality of different objects depicted in the raster image.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the raster image is a B-mode ultrasound image.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the selected line profile to form the processed line profile includes calculating the curvature of the selected line profile.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising decomposing the processed line profile into n-empirical modes, wherein n is one of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, to form a decomposed line profile.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining different frequency changes in time as a result from changes in structure at boundaries from the decomposed line profile by pole-tracking.
8. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to carry out the method of claim 1 .
9. A medical system, comprising:
at least one computer having at least one processor; and
a medical ultrasound imaging device for carrying out ultrasound imaging on a patient,
wherein the at least one computer is operably coupled to the medical ultrasound imaging device for receiving a signal from the medical ultrasound imaging device corresponding to a raster image having pixel rows and pixel columns, wherein at least one pixel column is selected and the at least one pixel column selected is converted into a selected line profile, an amplitude of the selected line profile representing a value of image information of selected pixels of the at least one pixel column selected, the at least one processor being configured to:
determine characteristics of the selected line profile and using the characteristics to characterize the at least one object depicted in the raster image, wherein the characteristics of the selected line profile are values of the selected line profile indicating the position of an edge of the at least one object, among values of the selected line profile, with a greatest distance from a predetermined position and having a predetermined relationship to a threshold value; and
processing the selected line profile to form a processed line profile, the processed line profile having an enhanced signal to noise ratio compared to the selected line profile, wherein processing the selecting line profile to form the processed line profile includes determining individual offset values for selected amplitudes of the selected line profile and subtracting the individual offset values from respective amplitudes prior to determining the characteristics of the selected line profile to create the processed line profile,
wherein the predetermined relationship includes zero crossings of the processed line profile.