Patent ID: 8396276
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for imaging a patient using an intravascular ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising: inserting a catheter into a target imaging region within patient vasculature, the catheter comprising at least one transducer disposed in a distal portion of a lumen defined in the catheter, the at least one transducer coupled to a control module by at least one conductor; generating a plurality of image frames as the at least one transducer is moved within patient vasculature, the image frames are based on data obtained from a plurality of echo signals reflected from patient tissue in response to a plurality of acoustic signals output from the at least one transducer, wherein each image frame comprises a motion-blur component arising from relative movement between the at least one transducer and surrounding patient tissue; quantifying a motion-blur-intensity estimate for each image frame to form a motion-blur-estimation signal that varies over time and that includes periodic local motion blur minima; filtering temporal variation of the motion-blur components to reduce variation in the motion-blur-intensity estimate arising from vessel structure variation; and selecting image frames that contain local motion blur minima.