Abstract:
The present invention relates to an ultrasound system and method capable of providing three-dimensional ultrasound images. The ultrasound system of the present invention transmits ultrasound signals to a target object, receives ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object and acquires ultrasound data based on the ultrasound echo signals. The ultrasound system allows a user to input rendering setting information containing information on at least two rendering directions. The ultrasound system forms volume data by using the ultrasound data, renders the volume data along the at least two rendering directions and forms three-dimensional ultrasound images corresponding to the at least two rendering directions. The ultrasound system stores the three-dimensional ultrasound images. The ultrasound system displays the three-dimensional ultrasound images on a display region.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority from Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2008-0108559 (filed on Nov. 3, 2008) and 10-2009-0046512 (filed on May 27, 2009) the entire subject matters of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to ultrasound systems, and more particularly to an ultrasound system and method for providing at least two three-dimensional ultrasound images by performing rendering upon volume data in at least two directions based on a user&#39;s desired rendering directions. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    The ultrasound system has become an important and popular diagnostic tool due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature. Modern high-performance ultrasound imaging diagnostic systems and techniques are commonly used to produce two or three-dimensional images of internal features of patients. 
         [0006]    An ultrasound system generally uses a probe containing an array of piezoelectric elements to transmit and receive ultrasound signals. The ultrasound system forms a volume data based on the received ultrasound signals and further forms three-dimensional ultrasound images by rendering the volume data. The ultrasound system displays the three-dimensional ultrasound images on a monitor or screen to observe the same. 
         [0007]    Generally, the ultrasound system may render the volume data along a predetermined direction to form the three-dimensional ultrasound image. Thus, the ultrasound system may not provide the three-dimensional ultrasound images of desirable viewing directions based on the user&#39;s request. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasound data acquisition unit located within the ultrasound system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a memory within the ultrasound system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a volume data having exemplary rendering directions. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of display region on a screen of a display unit. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6 to 8  are schematic diagrams showing storage areas allocated in a second memory disposed within the memory. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing storage areas allocated in a third memory provided within the memory. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 10 to 12  are schematic diagrams showing examples of displaying three-dimensional ultrasound images according to display setting information. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system  100  may include an ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 , a memory  120 , a user interface  130 , a processor  140  and a display unit  150 . 
         [0017]    The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may be configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object (not shown) and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object. The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may be further configured to acquire ultrasound data based on the received ultrasound echo signals. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  provided within the ultrasound system, which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may include a transmit (Tx) signal generating section  111 , an ultrasound probe  112  including a plurality of transducer elements (not shown), a beam former  113  and an ultrasound data forming section  114 . 
         [0019]    The Tx signal generating section  111  may generate Tx signals according to an image mode set in the ultrasound system  100 . The image mode may include a brightness (B) mode, a Doppler (D) mode, a color flow mode, etc. In one exemplary embodiment, the B mode is set in the ultrasound system  100  to obtain a B-mode image. 
         [0020]    The ultrasound probe  112  may receive the Tx signals from the Tx signal generating section  111  and generate ultrasound signals, which may travel into the target object. The ultrasound probe  112  may further receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object, and convert them into electrical receive signals. In such a case, the electrical receive signals may be analog signals, which may form a plurality of image frames by repeatedly performing the transmission and reception of the ultrasound signals. The ultrasound probe  112  may be a three-dimensional probe, a two-dimensional probe, a one-dimensional probe or the like. 
         [0021]    The beam former  113  may convert the electrical receive signals outputted from the ultrasound probe  112  into digital signals. The beam former  113  may further apply delays to the digital signals in consideration of the distances between the transducer elements and focal points to thereby output receive-focused beams. 
         [0022]    The ultrasound data forming section  114  may form a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to the plurality of image frames by using the receive-focused beams. The plurality of ultrasound data may be radio frequency (RF) data or IQ data. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the memory  120  located within the ultrasound system, which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The memory  120  may include a first memory  122 , a second memory  124  and a third memory  126 . The first memory  122  may store a plurality of rendering setting information, region of interest (ROI) setting information, display setting information, mode setting information and the at least one three-dimensional ultrasound image. The rendering setting information may contain information on at least two rendering directions. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the rendering setting information may include the information on six rendering directions A to F on a volume data  210  for forming six three-dimensional ultrasound images. However, it is noted herein that the rendering directions should not be limited thereto. The ROI setting information may include information on a size of ROI and a position of the ROI set on at least one of the three-dimensional ultrasound images. The display setting information may include information for selecting at least one three-dimensional ultrasound image for displaying among a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images and for selecting at least one sub-display region of the display region for displaying at least one selected three-dimensional ultrasound image. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of display regions on a screen of a display unit  150 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The display setting information stored in the first memory  122  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) may include information for selecting a plurality of sub-display regions. In  FIG. 5 , four three-dimensional ultrasound images are displayed on the sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d  in the display region  151  of the display unit  150 . 
         [0025]    The mode setting information stored in the first memory  122  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) may include information for changing a display mode. The display mode may include an X-Ray mode, a Min. mode, a Max. mode, a Light mode, etc. In the X-Ray mode, the three-dimensional ultrasound image may be formed by regulating intensities of voxels using an average intensity of the voxels. The X-Ray mode is useful in displaying the three-dimensional ultrasound image such as an X-Ray image. In the Max. mode, the three-dimensional ultrasound image is formed by reconstructing the three-dimensional ultrasound image using the voxels having maximum intensities. The Max. mode is useful in displaying bones of the human body. In the Min. mode, the three-dimensional ultrasound image is formed by reconstructing the three-dimensional ultrasound image using the voxels having minimum intensities. The Min. mode is useful in displaying vessels and hollows of the human body. In the Light mode, the three-dimensional ultrasound image is formed by transforming information on depth of each voxel into information on brightness. 
         [0026]    Referring now back to  FIG. 3 , the second memory  124  may store at least one three-dimensional ultrasound image selected through the user interface  130 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when three-dimensional ultrasound images I 1 -I 4  are displayed on first to fourth sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d,  first to fourth storage areas S 1 -S 4  corresponding to the first to fourth sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d  may be allocated in the second memory  124 . The three-dimensional ultrasound images I 1 -I 4  may be stored in the first to fourth storage areas S 1 -S 4 . The first to fourth storage areas S 1 -S 4  may include information on positions of the respective first to fourth sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d.    
         [0027]    If a storing capacity of the second memory  124  is smaller than the storing capacity of the third memory  126 , which may function as a image frame buffer memory, then the selected three-dimensional ultrasound images may be transferred from the first memory  122  to the second memory  124  one by one. Thereafter, they may be transferred to the third memory  126 , where all the transferred three-dimensional ultrasound images may form image frame data, which will be transferred to the display unit  150 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a fifth storage area S 5  corresponding to one of the first to third sub display regions  151   a - 151   c  and sixth storage area S 6  corresponding to the fourth display region  151   d  may be allocated in the second memory  124 . For example, the processor  140  may store the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 1  in the fifth storage area S 5 , and then transfer the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 1  from the second memory  124  to the third memory  126 . The processor may then fetch the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 2  from the first memory  122  and store the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 2  in storage area S 5 . It may then transfer the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 2  from the second memory  124  to the third memory  126 . Thereafter the processor  140  may fetch the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 3  and store the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 3  in storage area S 5 . It may then transfer the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 3  from the second memory  124  to the third memory  126 . The processor  140  may then fetch the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 4  from the first memory  122  and store the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 4  in the sixth storage area S 6 , and then transfer the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 4  from the second memory  124  to the third memory  126 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a seventh storage area S 7  corresponding to the fourth display region  151   d  may be allocated in the second memory  124 . For example, the processor  140  may fetch the three-dimensional ultrasound images I 1 -I 4  from the first memory  122  one by one in this order and store the three-dimensional ultrasound images I 1 -I 4  in the seventh storage area S 7 , respectively. It may then transfer the three-dimensional ultrasound image I 1 -I 4  one by one from the second memory  124  to the third memory  126  where the image frame data may be formed. 
         [0030]    The third memory  126  may store the at least one three-dimensional ultrasound image to be displayed on the display region. The third memory  126  may store the three-dimensional ultrasound images, which are previously stored in the second memory  124 . The three-dimensional ultrasound images stored in the third memory  126  may be displayed on the display unit  150 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 9 , the third memory  126  may include sub-storage areas S 8   a -S 8   d  corresponding to the first to fourth sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d.  The first to fourth sub-storage areas S 8   a -S 8   d  correspond to the respective first to fourth sub-display regions  151   a - 151   d.  The three-dimensional ultrasound image I 1  may be stored in the first sub-storage area S 8   a  in the third memory  126  and displayed on the first sub-display region  151   a.  The three-dimensional ultrasound image I 2  may be stored in the second sub-storage area S 8   b  in the third memory  126  and displayed on the second sub-display region  151   b.  The three-dimensional ultrasound image I 3  may be stored in the third sub-storage area S 8   c  in the third memory  126  and displayed on the third sub-display region  151   c.  The three-dimensional ultrasound image I 4  is stored in the fourth sub-storage area S 8   d  in the third memory  126  and displayed on the fourth sub-display region  151   d.    
         [0031]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the user interface  130  may include a control panel (not shown), a mouse (not shown) and a keyboard (not shown). The user interface  130  may allow a user to input user instructions. The user instructions may include first and second user instructions. The first user instruction may include at least one of the rendering setting instruction, the ROI setting instruction, the display setting instruction and the mode setting instruction. The first user instruction may be stored in the first memory  122 . The second instruction may include at least one of a rendering setting information selecting instruction, a ROI setting information selecting instruction, a display setting information selecting instruction and a mode setting information selecting instruction. The rendering setting information selecting instruction is an instruction for selecting one of the rendering setting information stored in the first memory  122 . The ROI setting information selecting instruction is an instruction for selecting one of the ROI setting information stored in the first memory  122 . The display setting information selecting instruction is an instruction for selecting one of the display setting information stored in the first memory  122 . The mode setting information selecting instruction is an instruction for selecting one of the mode setting information stored in the first memory  122 . 
         [0032]    The processor  140  may form the volume data including a plurality of voxels based on the plurality of ultrasound data. The processor  140  may be embodied as a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphic processing unit (GPU). When the rendering setting information is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may render the volume data along the rendering directions set according to the rendering setting information to thereby form at least one three-dimensional ultrasound image. The processor  140  may be further operable to allocate at least one storage area corresponding to the three-dimensional ultrasound images in the second memory  124 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 . The formed three-dimensional ultrasound images may be stored in the storage areas in the second memory  124 . The processor  140  may allocate at least one storage area in the third memory  126  according to the selected rendering setting information. The three-dimensional ultrasound images, which are stored in the corresponding storage area in the second memory  124 , may be stored in the corresponding storage areas in the third memory  126 . When the storage areas of the third memory  126  are filled with the three-dimensional ultrasound images, the processor  140  may divide the display region  151  of the display unit  150  into a plurality of sub-display regions. The three-dimensional ultrasound images stored in the storage areas of the third memory  126  may be displayed on the display region  151  of the display unit  150 . When the rendering setting information selecting instruction is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may load the rendering setting information from the first memory  122  corresponding to the rendering setting information selecting instruction. The processor  140  may render the volume data along the rendering directions corresponding to the loaded rendering setting information from the first memory  122  to form three-dimensional ultrasound images. The processor  140  may divide the second memory  124  into at least one sub-storage area as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 . The formed three-dimensional ultrasound images may be stored in the corresponding storage areas of the second memory  124 . The processor  140  may divide the third memory  126  into the sub-storage areas according to the rendering setting information. The three-dimensional ultrasound images, which are stored in the storage areas of the second memory  124 , may be stored in the storage areas of the third memory  126 . When the storage areas of the third memory  126  are filled with the three-dimensional ultrasound images, the processor  140  may divide the display region  151  of the display unit  150  into a plurality of sub-display regions. The three-dimensional ultrasound images stored in the storage areas of the third memory  126  may be displayed on the display region  151  of the display unit  150 . The processor  140  may render the volume data along at least two directions. 
         [0033]    When the ROI setting information is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may be operable to set a ROI on the volume data corresponding to the ROI setting information. The processor  140  may extract volume data corresponding to the ROI. The processor  140  may form the three-dimensional ultrasound image corresponding to the ROI by rendering the extracted volume data. The formed three-dimensional ultrasound image may be stored in the second memory  124 . When the ROI setting information selecting instruction is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may load the ROI setting information from the first memory  122  corresponding to the ROI setting information selecting instruction. The processor may set the ROI on the volume data and extract volume data corresponding to the ROI by using the loaded ROI setting information. The processor  140  may render the extracted volume data to form the three-dimensional ultrasound image corresponding to the ROI. The processor  140  may also form two-dimensional ultrasound image corresponding to the ROI. 
         [0034]    When the display setting information is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may set the display region  151  of the display unit  150 , allocate the storage areas in the second and third memories  124 ,  126  and display the three-dimensional ultrasound images stored in the third memory  126  according to the display setting information. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 10 to 12  are schematic diagrams showing examples of displaying three-dimensional ultrasound images according to display setting information. For example, when the display setting information, including selection information for selecting four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D  among sixth three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I F  and position information for displaying the four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D  on the display region  151  of the display unit  150  as shown in  FIG. 11 , is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may allocate the storage area in the second memory  124  (shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 ) according to the display setting information and store the four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D  in each storage area. The processor  140  may be operable to allocate the storage areas in the third memory  126  according to the display setting information. The four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D , which are stored in the corresponding storage area of the second memory  124 , may be transferred to the storage areas in the third memory  126 . When the storage areas of the third memory  126  are filled with the four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D , the processor  140  may divide the display region  151  of the display unit  150  according to the display setting information and transfer the image frame data from the third memory  126  to the display unit  150 . Thereafter, the four three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I D  stored in the third memory  126  may be displayed on the display region  151  of the display unit  150 . 
         [0036]    As another example, when the display setting information, including selection information for selecting five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E  among sixth three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I F  and position information for displaying the five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E  on the display region  151  of the display unit  150  as shown in  FIG. 12 , is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may allocate the storage area in the second memory  124  according to the display setting information and store the five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E  in each storage area. The processor  140  may allocate the storage areas in the third memory  126  according to the display setting information. The five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E , which are stored in the corresponding storage area of the second memory  124 , may be stored in the storage areas of the third memory  126 . When the storage areas of the third memory  126  are filled with the five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E , the processor  140  may divide the display region  151  of the display unit  150  according to the display setting information and transfer the image frame data from the third memory  126  to the display unit. For example, and display the five three-dimensional ultrasound images I A -I E  stored in the third memory  126  on the display region  151  of the display unit  150 . 
         [0037]    When the mode setting information is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may be operable to perform data processing according to a display mode selected in response to the inputted mode setting information. When the mode setting information selecting instruction is inputted through the user interface  130 , the processor  140  may load the mode setting information from the first memory  122  corresponding to the inputted mode setting information selecting instruction. The processor  140  may operate data processing according to the selected display mode in response to the loaded mode setting information. 
         [0038]    The display unit  150  may display the three-dimensional ultrasound images formed at the processor  140 . The display unit  150  may include the display region  151  for displaying the three-dimensional ultrasound images as shown in  FIGS. 10 to 12 . 
         [0039]    Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “illustrative embodiment,” etc. means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
         [0040]    Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, numerous variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.