Patent ID: 6687392
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61B,G01S,G06T,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of analyzing an echo image containing a contour of an organ with reduced manual operation, the method including the steps of:obtaining said echo image; (1) setting a search region including a connecting line segment connecting each pair of adjacent ones of known points on said contour; (2) setting a search line segment that originates from a point bisecting said connecting line segment of said search region and reaches an end of said search region; (3) searching each search line segment for a contour point constituting said contour; and forming said contour by connecting said contour points on said search line segments; wherein said step of searching each search line segment includes the steps of: calculating a gradient of each pixel on said search line segment; and selecting, as said contour point, a pixel with a maximum value; and wherein said step of selecting a pixel includes the steps of: determining if said maximum value is positive; and in the event said maximum value is not positive, selecting a center point of said connecting line segment as a temporary point, and wherein the method further including the steps of: treating said temporary point as one of said known points; and after a cycle comprising said steps (1) through (3), selecting, as a contour point, a center point of a line segment connecting two contour points to which said temporary point is adjacent, and discarding said temporary point.