High volume rate 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596383-B2
Application number	US-202016833332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	May 26, 2010
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D display images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. In a preferred embodiment the determination of motion and the consequent decision to use interpolated or interleaved data for display is determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing software code representing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method of displaying three-dimensional (3D) image data at a high frame rate, the method comprising:
receiving at least two datasets of a volumetric region comprising moving tissue, wherein each dataset is obtained using spatially different scanline patterns at different acquisition times during tissue movement and comprise image data corresponding to sampled locales within the volume;
attributing first data values to image data of a first dataset and second data values to image data of a second dataset, wherein the first and second data values correspond to respective sampled locales of the first and second data sets;
generating interpolated data representing the volumetric region between the sampled locales of the first data set;
attributing values to the interpolated data, thereby generating interpolated data values;
comparing the second data values to the interpolated data values; and
generating an image dataset, wherein the image dataset comprises image data of the first dataset and either:
interpolated data when a first interpolated data value is substantially different from a second data value at the same sampled locale; or
a portion of data from the second dataset when a first interpolated data value is substantially the same as a second data value at the same sampled locale.

2. The computer-readable, non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the image data is ultrasound image data.

3. The computer-readable, non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the method performed further comprises displaying the image dataset.

4. The computer-readable, non-transitory medium of claim 1 , wherein the portion of data from the second dataset corresponds to the volumetric region between the sampled locales of the first data set.

5. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image, the method comprising:
receiving at least two datasets of a volumetric region comprising moving tissue, wherein each dataset is obtained using spatially different scanline patterns at different acquisition times during tissue movement and comprise image data corresponding to sampled locales within the volume;
attributing first data values to image data of a first dataset and second data values to image data of a second dataset, wherein the first and second data values correspond to respective sampled locales of the first and second data sets;
generating interpolated data representing the volumetric region between the sampled locales of the first data set;
attributing values to the interpolated data, thereby generating interpolated data values;
comparing the second data values to the interpolated data values; and
generating an image dataset, wherein the image dataset comprises image data of the first dataset and either:
interpolated data when a first interpolated data value is substantially different from a second data value at the same sampled locale; or
a portion of data from the second dataset when a first interpolated data value is substantially the same as a second data value at the same sampled locale.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the image data is ultrasound image data.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method performed further comprises displaying the image dataset.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the portion of data from the second dataset corresponds to the volumetric region between the sampled locales of the first data set.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Prater David
• Watkins Stephen P
• Martin William Robert

Classifications

• G01S15/8993

  Three dimensional imaging systems · CPC title

• A61B8/463

  characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display · CPC title

• A61B8/145

  characterised by scanning multiple planes · CPC title

• A61B8/08

  Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01S7/5208

  with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead · CPC title