Method and ultrasound imaging system for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter

An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring an image with an ultrasound probe, displaying the image on a touch screen, and detecting a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen. The ultrasound imaging system and method includes selecting a region of the image based on the first touch gesture, detecting a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen, and adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a method and ultrasound imaging system for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter of an image with a touch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When acquiring and displaying images acquired with an ultrasound imaging system, it is typically desirable to have images with ultrasound parameters that are consistent in appearance throughout the whole image. Images generated from ultrasound data often need to have one or more local region adjusted for an ultrasound parameter such as gain, brightness, or contrast. As more ultrasound imaging systems include a touch screen to both display the image and receive touch gestures, there is a need for an easy and intuitive technique that allows a user to select a region and adjust one or more ultrasound parameters for that region via the touch screen.

For these and other reasons, an improved method and ultrasound imaging system for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter of an image is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages, and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

In an embodiment, a method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring an image with an ultrasound probe, displaying the image on a touch screen, and detecting a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen. The method includes selecting a region of the image based on the first touch gesture, detecting a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen, and adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture.

In an embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe, a touch screen, and a processor in electronic communication with the ultrasound probe and the touch screen. The processor is configured to control the ultrasound probe to acquire an image, display the image on the touch screen, and detect a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen. The processor is configured to select a region of the image based on the first touch gesture, receive a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen, and adjust a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture.

Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging system100in accordance with an embodiment. The ultrasound imaging system100includes a transmit beamformer101and a transmitter102that drive elements104within an ultrasound probe106to emit pulsed ultrasonic signals into a body (not shown). The ultrasound probe106may be a linear probe, a curved linear probe, a 2D array, a mechanical 3D/4D probe, an E4D probe capable of full beamforming in both elevation and azimuth directions, or any other type of ultrasound probe capable of acquiring ultrasound data. Still referring toFIG. 1, the pulsed ultrasonic signals are back-scattered from structures in the body, like blood cells or muscular tissue, to produce echoes that return to the elements104. The echoes are converted into electrical signals by the elements104, and the electrical signals are received by a receiver108. The electrical signals representing the received echoes are passed through a receive beamformer110that outputs ultrasound data. According to some embodiments, the ultrasound probe106may contain electronic circuitry to do all or part of the transmit and/or the receive beamforming. For example, all or part of the transmit beamformer101, the transmitter102, the receiver108, and the receive beamformer110may be situated within the ultrasound probe106. The terms “scan” or “scanning” may also be used in this disclosure to refer to acquiring data through the process of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals. The terms “data” or “ultrasound data” may be used in this disclosure to refer to either one or more datasets acquired with an ultrasound imaging system. A user input device115may be used to control operation of the ultrasound imaging system100, including to control the input of patient data, to change a scanning or ultrasound parameter, and the like.

The ultrasound imaging system100also includes a processor116to control the transmit beamformer101, the transmitter102, the receiver108, and the receive beamformer110. The processor116is in electronic communication with the ultrasound probe106. The processor116may control the ultrasound probe106to acquire data. The processor116controls which of the elements104are active and the shape of a beam emitted from the ultrasound probe106. The ultrasound imaging system100also includes a touch screen117. The touch screen117provides and input/output interface between the ultrasound imaging system100and a user. The processor116sends signals to the touch screen117, causing the touch screen117to display visual outputs to the user, such as images, a graphical user interface (GUI), video clips, menus, or any other type of visual output. The touch screen117outputs signals to the processor116based on the touch inputs, which may be in the form of one or more touch gestures, received via the touch screen117.

The touch screen117includes a touch-sensitive surface or layer configured to receive touch inputs from the user. The touch screen117in combination with the processor116converts one or more detected touch gestures into actions, commands, or interactions. In some embodiments, the touch gestures may interact with a GUI displayed on the touch screen117. The user may interact with the touch screen117using one or more fingers and/or an object, such as a stylus.

The touch screen117may use any type of technology to display visual outputs including a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a variable graphics array (VGA), or any other type of apparatus configured for displaying an image. Other display technologies may be used in other embodiments.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “electronic communication” may be defined to include both wired and wireless connections. The processor116may include a central processor (CPU) according to an embodiment. According to other embodiments, the processor116may include other electronic components capable of carrying out processing functions, such as a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphic board. According to other embodiments, the processor116may include multiple electronic components capable of carrying out processing functions. For example, the processor116may include two or more electronic components selected from a list of electronic components including: a central processor, a digital signal processor, an FPGA, and a graphic board. According to another embodiment, the processor116may also include a complex demodulator (not shown) that demodulates the RF data and generates raw data. In another embodiment the demodulation can be carried out earlier in the processing chain. The processor116may be adapted to perform one or more processing operations according to a plurality of selectable ultrasound modalities on the data. The data may be processed in real-time during a scanning session as the echo signals are received. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “real-time” is defined to include a procedure that is performed without any intentional delay. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “real-time” will be additionally defined to include an action occurring within 2 seconds. For example, if data is acquired, then a real-time display of that data would occur within 2 seconds. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that most real-time procedures or processes will be performed in substantially less time than 2 seconds. The data may be stored temporarily in a buffer (not shown) during a scanning session and processed in less than real-time in a live or off-line operation. Some embodiments of the invention may include multiple processors (not shown) to handle the processing tasks. For example, a first processor may be utilized to demodulate and decimate the RF signal while a second processor may be used to further process the data prior to displaying an image. It should be appreciated that other embodiments may use a different arrangement of processors.

The ultrasound imaging system100may continuously acquire data at a given frame-rate or volume-rate. Images generated from the data may be refreshed at a similar frame-rate or volume-rate. A memory120is included for storing processed frames of acquired data. In an exemplary embodiment, the memory120is of sufficient capacity to store at least several seconds worth of frames of ultrasound data. The frames of data are stored in a manner to facilitate retrieval thereof according to its order or time of acquisition. The memory120may comprise any known data storage medium.

Optionally, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented utilizing contrast agents. Contrast imaging generates enhanced images of anatomical structures and blood flow in a body when using ultrasound contrast agents including microbubbles. After acquiring data while using a contrast agent, the image analysis includes separating harmonic and linear components, enhancing the harmonic component, and generating an ultrasound image by utilizing the enhanced harmonic component. Separation of harmonic components from the received signals is performed using suitable filters. The use of contrast agents for ultrasound imaging is well-known by those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in further detail.

In various embodiments of the present invention, data may be processed by other or different mode-related modules by the processor116(e.g., B-mode, color Doppler, M-mode, color M-mode, spectral Doppler, Elastography, TVI, strain, strain rate, and the like) to form 2D or 3D data. For example, one or more modules may generate B-mode, color Doppler, M-mode, color M-mode, spectral Doppler, Elastography, TVI, strain, strain rate and combinations thereof, and the like. The image beams and/or frames are stored, and timing information indicating a time at which the data was acquired in memory may be recorded. The modules may include, for example, a scan conversion module to perform scan conversion operations to convert the image frames from beam space coordinates to display space coordinates. A video processor module may be provided that reads the image frames from a memory, such as the memory120, and displays the image frames in real time while a procedure is being carried out on a patient. A video processor module may store the image frames in an image memory, from which the images are read and displayed.

FIG. 2is a flow chart of a method200in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The individual blocks of the flow chart represent steps that may be performed in accordance with the method200. Additional embodiments may perform the steps shown in a different sequence and/or additional embodiments may include additional steps not shown inFIG. 2. The technical effect of the method200is the adjusting of a value of an ultrasound parameter for a region of an image based on first and second touch gestures received through the touch screen117.

At step202, the processor116controls the ultrasound probe106to acquire an image. The processor116may control the elements104of the ultrasound probe106to acquire ultrasound data of a desired region of a patient. For example, according to an embodiment, the processor116may control the transmit beamformer101to shape and focus one or more transmit beams and the receive beamformer110to focus one or more receive beams. The ultrasound data may comprise 2D ultrasound data or 3D ultrasound data of a volume. The ultrasound data may also comprise data for generating a cine loop including a plurality of images showing a plane or a volume over a period of time.

At step204, the processor116displays an image on the touch screen117. The image is generated from the ultrasound data acquired at step202.FIG. 3is a schematic representation of an image302in accordance with an embodiment. The image302may be a 2D image based on 2D ultrasound data acquired along a plane or the image may represent a slice or plane based on data acquired as part of a volume acquisition. The image may be part of a cine loop including a plurality of images acquired over a period of time. The image may also be a rendering generated from volume (3D) ultrasound data. The rendering may include any type of rendering including, but not limited to: projection rendering techniques such as a maximum intensity projection (MIP) rendering, a minimum intensity projection (MINIP) rendering; surface rendering techniques, and thin slab rendering or thick slab rendering techniques. It should be appreciated that any other type of rendering techniques may be used to generate an image from volume ultrasound data.

At step206, the processor116detects a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen117. The first touch gesture is performed by a user interacting with the touch screen117. The first touch gesture may comprise one or more single-touch gestures, or the first touch gesture may comprise one or more multi-touch gestures. Single-touch gestures are gestures inputted via the touch screen117where the user only contacts the touch screen117at a single point of contact. Multi-touch gestures are gestures inputted via the touch screen117where the user makes two or more points of contact with the touch screen117at a time. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “touch gesture” will also be defined to include a touch of the touch screen117where the point of contact between the user and the touch screen117is stationary with respect to the touch screen117.

FIG. 4is a schematic representation of a hand with respect to an image according to an embodiment.FIG. 4includes the image302and a representation of a first hand304making a first touch gesture. According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the first touch gesture includes covering the region306(shown inFIG. 6) of the image on the touch screen117.FIG. 4shows a finger from the first hand304contacting the touch screen117to select the region306. While the embodiment shown inFIG. 4shows a single finger contacting the touch screen117to identify the region306, it should be appreciated that the user could use multiple appendages (such as fingers) and/or other parts of a user's hand to cover the region306on the touch screen117.

According to other embodiments, a different type of first gesture may be used to identify the region306. For example, according to another embodiment, the first touch gesture may include tracing a border of the region306on the touch screen117or performing other gestures to indicate the region306. For example, the user may trace a border around the region306with a finger or a stylus. Or, according to other embodiments, the user may touch the entire area within the region306within a predetermined amount of time, such as within 1 second, within 2 seconds, or within 5 seconds. The user may, for instance, move the position of a point of contact between one or more fingers and the touch screen117to touch all of the region306within the predetermined amount of time. The value of the predetermined amount of time may be different according to other embodiments or the value of the predetermined amount of time may be user adjustable according to other embodiments.

At step208, the processor116identifies the region306on the image based on the first touch gesture. As discussed hereinabove, the touch screen117may transmit signals to the processor116which the processor116interprets as a command to select the region306.

According to an embodiment, the processor116may graphically highlight the region306on the image shown on the touch screen117to help the user see the region306. This allows the user to confirm that the desired region has been selected. This may be particularly helpful for embodiments where the user is not inputting the second touch gesture while the first touch gesture is being inputted. For example, the processor116may use one or more of an outline, a color, a brightness, a translucency, and a pattern to graphically highlight the region306. Graphically highlighting the region306allows the user to easily confirm that the region306is the desired size and shape with respect to the image302before adjusting the value of any ultrasound parameters.

According to an embodiment, the processor116may graphically highlight the region306on the image302after the user has inputted the first gesture. For example, according to the embodiment where the user covers the portion of the touch screen117corresponding to the region306, the processor116may graphically highlight the region306for an amount of time after the user removes the first gesture from the touch screen117. This may, for instance allow the user to confirm that the selected region306is of the desired size and shape.

At step210, the processor116, detects a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen117.FIG. 5shows a schematic representation of a first hand304inputting a first touch gesture and a second hand305inputting a second touch gesture according to an embodiment. The second touch gesture may be inputted while the first touch gesture is being inputted, or the second touch gesture may be inputted after the first touch gesture has been inputted.

FIG. 5shows a schematic representation of an embodiment where the second touch gesture is a translational gesture. The embodiment inFIG. 5shows an exemplary embodiment where the translational gesture is in a first direction506. The user may perform the translational gesture by touching the touch screen117in a location and then translating the finger, and therefore, the point of contact, with the touch screen117, in the first direction.

According to an embodiment, the user may increase the value of AN ultrasound parameter, such as gain, by performing the translational gesture in a first direction and decrease the value of the ultrasound parameter by performing the translation gesture in a second direction508that is opposite of the first direction506. In other words, performing the translation direction in the first direction506would increase the gain while performing the translation direction in the second direction508would decrease the gain. According to other embodiments, the translational gesture may be performed in other directions, including, but not limited to, directions orthogonal to the first direction506. According to other embodiments, translational gestures in a first direction506may be used to adjust a value of a first ultrasound parameter and translational gestures in a third direction510may be used to adjust a value of a second ultrasound parameter, where the second ultrasound parameter is different than the first ultrasound parameter. The first translational gesture may adjust a value of a first ultrasound parameter such as gain, while the second translational gesture may adjust a value of a second ultrasound parameter such as brightness for the region306. Different embodiments may adjust different ultrasound parameters.

According to other embodiments, a second touch gesture of a different type may be used to adjust the value of the ultrasound parameter. For instance, the first touch gesture may be an expand gesture, such as increasing the distance between two or more fingers while the two or more fingers are contacting the touch screen117, and the second touch gesture may be a pinch gesture, such as decreasing the distance between two or more fingers while the two or more fingers are contacting the touch screen117. According to an embodiment, the expand gesture may be used to increase the value of the ultrasound parameter within the region306and the pinch gesture may be used to decrease the value of the ultrasound parameter within the region306. According to other embodiments, a first type of second touch gesture may be used to adjust a first ultrasound parameter of the region306and a second, different, type of touch gesture may be used to adjust a second ultrasound parameter of the region306.

At step212, the processor116adjusts a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region306of the image302based on the second touch gesture. The ultrasound parameter may include a display parameter, such as contrast, brightness, or gain, or any other display parameter. The ultrasound parameter may also include a beamforming technique or a beamforming parameter. For example, according to embodiments where the beamforming is performed in software, the processor116may adjust beamforming technique applied to the ultrasound data associated with the region306. In other words, the processor116may apply a first beamforming technique to the portion of the ultrasound data associated with the region306and a second beamforming technique that is different than the first beamforming technique. The ultrasound data may be raw data that has not yet been processed according to some embodiments using software beamforming. True Confocal Imaging (TCI), Adaptive Contrast Enhancement (ACE), and Retrospective Transmit Beamforming (RTB) are nonlimiting examples of different beamforming techniques that may be implemented when performing beamforming in software. According to an embodiment, adjusting the value of the ultrasound parameter for the region may include adjusting how much of a beamforming technique, such as ACE, is applied to the region306. For example, the user may adjust the region so either more ACE or less ACE is applied to the region306compared to the rest of the image302outside the region306. Other embodiments may use different beamforming techniques or may adjust the amount of various beamforming techniques that are applied to the region306according to various embodiments. According to an embodiment, a beamforming parameter may include a transmit delay time or a receive delay time.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasound parameter may comprise gain, and the processor116may increase the gain for the region306in response to a translational gesture in the first direction506. According to an embodiment, the processor116may control the gain of the region306with the second touch gesture. For example, the gain of the region306may be increased as the user moves the first touch gesture in the first direction506and the gain of the region may be decreased as the user moves the first touch gesture in the second direction508that is opposite to the first direction506. The second touch gesture may be used in a manner similar to a slider: the vertical position of the point of contact between the user and the touch screen117may determine the value of the ultrasound parameter, for the region306. According to an embodiment, the processor116may display a virtual slider502, shown inFIG. 6, after receiving the first touch gesture.FIG. 6also shows the region306, which may be graphically highlighted according to an embodiment. The virtual slider502is shown next to the ultrasound image inFIG. 6on the touch screen117, but in other embodiments the virtual slider502may be displayed on top of the image302. The user may use the second touch gesture to control the position of an indicator504on the virtual slider502to control the value of the ultrasound parameter, such as gain, of the region306. The processor116may optionally display more than one virtual slider on the display device118at the same time. For example, the processor116may display a first virtual slider in a first orientation to control a first ultrasound parameter and a second virtual slider in a second orientation to control a second ultrasound parameter. Or for embodiments where virtual sliders are not displayed, the processor116may respond to gestures in either of two directions by adjusting the first ultrasound parameter based on an overall vertical position of the touch input and adjusting the second ultrasound parameter based on the overall horizontal position of the touch input. For example, gestures in the first direction506may adjust gain and gestures in the third direction510, orthogonal to the first direction506, may adjust brightness. Or, a single gesture may be used to adjust both a first ultrasound parameter value and a second ultrasound parameter value. For example, the touch gesture could trace a non-linear shape on the touch screen117, where displacement in the first direction506adjusts the first ultrasound parameter and, at the same time, displacement in a different direction, such as the third direction510, orthogonal to the first direction, adjusts a second ultrasound parameter value.

The second touch gesture may be performed while the first touch gesture is being performed.FIG. 5shows an embodiment where the second touch gesture is performed while the first touch gesture is being performed. According to other embodiments, the first touch gesture and the second touch gestures may be performed sequentially. For example, the first touch gesture may be used to identify the region and then, once the region has been identified, the user may input the second touch gesture.

Different touch gestures may be used to control the values of different ultrasound parameters within the region306according to various embodiments. For example, one or more translational gestures may be used to adjust the value of a first ultrasound parameter, and a second type of touch gesture, such as a pinch gesture or an expand gesture, may be used to control the value of the second ultrasound parameter. For example, a translational gesture in either the first direction506or the second direction508may be used to adjust the value of the gain within the region306, and a pinch gesture or an expanding gesture may be used to adjust the value of a second ultrasound parameter, such as brightness, within the region306.

According to various embodiments, the processor116may apply either a sharp border or a feathered border to the region306when adjusting the value of the ultrasound parameter at step212. For embodiments with a sharp border, the processor116adjusts the value of the ultrasound parameter the same amount for the entire region306. For embodiments with a feathered border, the processor116may apply a feathering function within a predetermined distance of an edge of the region306. For example, the processor116may adjust the value of the ultrasound parameter differently in a portion of the region306within a predetermined distance from an edge of the region306.FIG. 6includes a representation of the region306. The region306shown onFIG. 6includes an inner region350and an outer region352within a predetermined distance from an edge of the region306. The processor116may use a smoothing function within the outer region352to blend the change applied to the inner region350with rest of the image302. The smoothing function may, for instance, be a linear function or any other type of function to reduce the appearance of the edge of the region306with respect to the portion of the image302not within the region306.

If it is desired to make an additional ultrasound parameter adjustment at step214, the method200advances to step206, and steps206,208,210, and212may be repeated. According to an embodiment, a second region may be identified and a value of an ultrasound parameter for the second region may be adjusted.

If it is not desired to make an additional ultrasound parameter adjustment at step214, the method200advances to step216.

The image acquired at step202may be a static image, or the image may be part of a cine loop, or it may be part of a volume acquisition. If the image is part of a cine loop, the method200advances to step218from step216. If the image is not part of a cine loop, the method200advances to step226. If the image is part of a volume acquisition, the method200advances to step228from step226. If the image is not part of a volume acquisition, the method200advances to the end236.

FIG. 7is a schematic representation of an embodiment where the image302is part of a cine loop702.FIG. 7shows a plurality of images that would be displayed in sequence as part of a cine loop. For example, inFIG. 7, 701is a first image,702is a second image,703is a third image,704is a fourth image, and705is a fifth image. According to an exemplary embodiment, the image302acquired at step202may be the third image703. The region306is shown on the third image703. The method200may advance from step218to step220if it is desired to adjust the value of the ultrasound parameter in corresponding frames. If, on the other hand, it is not desired to adjust the value of the ultrasound parameter in corresponding frames, then the method200advances to step226.

As discussed above, if it is desired to adjust the value of an ultrasound parameter in a corresponding image, the method200advances to step220. At step220, the processor identifies a corresponding region706in one or more other images in the cine loop. The processor116may identify the corresponding region706in either some or all of the images in the cine loop702. According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, the processor identifies the corresponding region706in the first image701, the second image702, the fourth image704, and the fifth image705. However, according to other embodiments, the processor116may identify corresponding region706in only a subset of the images. For example, the second image702and the fourth image704are both adjacent to the third image703. The processor116may only identify corresponding regions within a specified number of images of the image where the region was identified in the cine loop702.

The corresponding region is shown in the first image701, the second image702, the fourth image704, and the fifth image705according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7. The corresponding region706is shown in dashed line inFIG. 7. The processor116may use a variety of techniques to identify the corresponding region706in one or more other images in the cine loop702. For example, the processor116may identify the corresponding region706by using the same geometrical position within the image. For example, the corresponding region706shown inFIG. 2may have the same position within the second image702as the region306has within the third image703. According to other embodiments, the processor116may use other techniques, such as image processing, to identify the corresponding region706. For example, the processor may use techniques such as edge detection, B-splines, shape-based detection algorithms, average intensity, segmentation, speckle tracking, or any other image-processing based techniques to identify a corresponding region, with a predetermined amount of similarity to the region306in the third image703.

At step222, the processor116adjusts the value of the ultrasound parameter in the one or more corresponding regions706for the other images within the cine loop702. The processor116may make the same correction to the ultrasound parameter in each of the corresponding regions706as was made in the region306. Or, according to an embodiment, the processor116may apply a smoothing function so that the amount that the ultrasound parameter is adjusted in each corresponding region706varies based on the distance to the image in which the correction was made. For example, the processor may apply a smaller adjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter in the first image701and the fifth image705, both of which are two images away from the third image703compared to the adjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter made in the second image702and the fourth image704, both of which are only one image away (i.e., they are adjacent to the third image703) from third image703in the cine loop700.

Referring now to step228,FIG. 8shows a schematic representation of an embodiment, where the image acquired at step202is part of a volume acquisition. The volume802may be acquired with many different techniques, including acquiring images of a plurality of different planes. The volume acquisition may be performed with an ultrasound probe with a position tracking system, a mechanical 3D probe or an E4D probe with a 2D matrix array. It may be possible to generate and display an image of a plane or a slab of the volume. For example, 5 different slabs are show inFIG. 8and they are numbered1,2,3,4and5. The image803represents slab3and the image804represents slab4. The region306may be identified at step230in image803according to an embodiment.

The processor116may use a variety of techniques to identify the corresponding region706in one or more other images representing different planes in the volume802. For example, the processor116may identify the corresponding region706by using the same geometrical position within the image. For example, the corresponding region706shown inFIG. 2may have the same position within the second image802as the region306has within the third image803. According to other embodiments, the processor116may use other techniques, such as image processing, to identify the corresponding region706. For example, the processor116may use techniques such as edge detection, B-splines, shape-based detection algorithms, average intensity, segmentation, speckle tracking, or any other image-processing based techniques to identify a corresponding region, with a predetermined amount of similarity to the region306in the third image803.

At step232, the processor116adjusts the ultrasound parameter in one or more corresponding regions706for images of other planes within the volume802. The processor116may make the same correction to the ultrasound parameter in the corresponding regions706as was made in the region306. Or, according to an embodiment, the processor116may apply a smoothing function so that the amount that the ultrasound parameter is adjusted in the corresponding regions706varies based on the spatial distance of the plane from the plane of the image in which the ultrasound parameter was adjusted. For example, the processor may apply a smaller adjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter in the first image801and the fifth image805, both of which are two images away from the third image803, compared to the adjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter made in the second image802and the fourth image804, both of which represent planes that are spatially closer to the third plane than the first image801or the fifth image805.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the method200may be performed on one or more images that are part of a live acquisition. According to an embodiment where the ultrasound parameter is adjusted in an image that is part of a live acquisition, the value of the ultrasound parameter may be adjusted in a single frame or image, such as during a freeze operation, for example, and then the same change in the value of the ultrasound parameter may optionally be applied to all frames acquired after the image during the live acquisition. Or according to other embodiments, the method200may be performed on one or more images that were acquired at an earlier time and subsequently accessed by the processor from a memory, such as the memory120shown inFIG. 1.