Patent ID: 6540681
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
A method for generating an extended view ultrasound image, comprising the steps of:generating a plurality of scan frames as a transducer is moved across a target; detecting transducer position information corresponding to each of said scan frames, said position information including location and orientation information; and using said transducer position information to form an extended view image from said scan frames; initializing an output array; and sequentially processing said scan frames and updating said output array as each scan frame is processed; wherein said extended view image comprises at least a portion of said output array; said scan frames being at least partially overlapping, wherein a blending algorithm is used at each overlapping location to update said output array based on a current scan frame value at that location and at least one previous scan frame value at that location; said blending algorithm comprising the steps of: weighting the current scan frame value at that location by a first weighting factor to produce a first intermediate result; weighting the previous output array value at that location by a second weighting factor to produce a second intermediate result; and setting the current value of the output array at that location to a sum of said first and second intermediate results; wherein said first weighting factor is equal to a value &agr;, and wherein said second weighting factor is equal to (1âˆ’&agr;); and wherein &agr; is a predetermined fixed value greater than or equal to 0.4 and less than or equal to 0.9.