Abstract:
There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a preview image. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits and receives ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor forms volume data by using the plurality of ultrasound data. The processor further sets a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries and renders the volume data along the plurality of respective rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0111822 filed on Nov. 11, 2010, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to ultrasound systems, and more particularly to an ultrasound system and method for providing a preview image. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An ultrasound system has become an important and popular diagnostic tool due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature. The ultrasound system can provide high dimensional real-time ultrasound images of inner parts of target objects without any surgical operation. 
         [0004]    The ultrasound system may provide a three-dimensional ultrasound image including clinical information such as spatial information and anatomical figures of the target objects, which cannot be provided by a two-dimensional ultrasound image. Generally, the ultrasound system may transmit ultrasound signals to a target object, receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object and form volume data by using the received ultrasound echo signals. The ultrasound system may render the volume data along a predetermined rendering direction to thereby form the three-dimensional ultrasound image. 
         [0005]    Conventionally, the three-dimensional ultrasound image is formed by rendering the volume data along the predetermined rendering direction. As a result, there is a disadvantage since it is required to rotate or move the three-dimensional ultrasound image in a plurality of directions to search for the three-dimensional ultrasound image corresponding to a desirable view. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An embodiment for providing a preview image is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system may include: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire a plurality of ultrasound data; and a processor coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit and being configured to form volume data by using the plurality of ultrasound data, set a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries and render the volume data along the plurality of respective rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of providing a preview image may comprise: a) transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output a plurality of ultrasound data; b) forming volume data by using the plurality of ultrasound data; c) setting a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries; and d) rendering the volume data along the plurality of respective rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images. 
         [0008]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound data acquisition unit. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a scanning direction to obtain frames. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an illustrative embodiment of method for providing a plurality of preview images. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of volume data. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of rendering directions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    This detailed description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. One of ordinary skill in the art may realize that the following description is illustrative only and is not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention may readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound system. As depicted therein, the ultrasound system  100  may include an ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 , a user interface  120 , a processor  130 , a memory  140  and a display unit  150 . 
         [0017]    The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may be configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby form ultrasound data. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may include an ultrasound probe  210 , a transmit (Tx) signal generating section  220 , a beam former  230  and a ultrasound data forming section  240 . 
         [0019]    The ultrasound probe  210  may include a plurality of transducer elements (not shown) for reciprocally converting between electrical signals and ultrasound signals. The ultrasound probe  210  may transmit ultrasound signals to the target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to thereby form the received signals. The received signals may be analog signals. The ultrasound probe  210  may include a three dimensional mechanical probe, a 2D array probe and the like. 
         [0020]    The Tx signal generating section  220  may be configured to control transmission of the ultrasound signals. Furthermore, the Tx signal generating section  220  may generate Tx signals to acquire frames in consideration of distances between the respective transducer elements and focal points. In one embodiment, the Tx signal generating section  220  may generate Tx signals to acquire a plurality of respective frames Fi (1≦i≦N) as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, when the Tx signals are provided from the Tx signal generating section  220 , the ultrasound probe  210  may convert the Tx signals into the ultrasound signals, transmit the ultrasound signals to the target object and receive ultrasound the echo signals reflected from the target object to thereby form the received signals. 
         [0021]    The beam former  230  may convert the received signals provided from the ultrasound probe  210  into digital signals. Furthermore, the beam former  126  may apply delays to the digital signals in consideration of distances between the transducer elements and focal points to thereby output receive-focused signals. In one embodiment, the beam former  126  may convert a plurality of received signals sequentially provided form the ultrasound probe  210  into a plurality of digital signals. Furthermore, the beam former  126  may apply delays to the plurality of respective digital signals in consideration of distances between the transducer elements and focal points to thereby form a plurality of receive-focused signals. 
         [0022]    The ultrasound data forming section  240  may form the ultrasound data by using the receive-focused signals provided from the beam former  230 . The ultrasound data may include radio frequency (RF) data. However, it should be noted herein that the ultrasound data may not be limited thereto. Furthermore, the ultrasound data forming section  240  may perform a variety of signal processing, i.e. gain control, on the receive-focused signals. In one embodiment, the ultrasound data forming section  240  may form the ultrasound data corresponding to the plurality of respective frames F i  (1≦i≦N) by using the receive-focused signals sequentially provided from the beam former  230 . 
         [0023]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the user interface  120  may receive input information from a user. In one embodiment, the input information may include select information for selecting at least one preview image among a plurality of preview images. However, it should be noted herein that the input information may not be limited thereto. The user interface  120  may include a control panel, a trackball, a mouse, a keyboard and the like. 
         [0024]    The processor  130  may be connected to the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  and the user interface  120 . The processor  130  may render the volume data along a plurality of different rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images corresponding to a plurality of views. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an illustrative embodiment of method for providing the plurality of preview images. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the processor  130  may form the volume data  510  as shown in  FIG. 5  by using a plurality of ultrasound data provided from the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 , at step S 402 . The volume data  510  may be stored in the memory  140 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the volume data. The volume data  510  may include a plurality of voxels (not shown) each having a brightness value. Referring to  FIG. 5 , an axial direction may represent a propagation direction of ultrasound signals from the transducer elements of the ultrasound probe  210 , a lateral direction may represent a moving direction of a scanline and an elevation direction may represent a scanning direction for the frames (i.e., scanning planes), which is a depth direction of the three-dimensional ultrasound image. 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the processor  130  may set a reference rendering direction for forming the three-dimensional ultrasound image, at step S 404 . The processor  130  may render the volume data  510  along the set reference rendering direction to form the three-dimensional ultrasound image, at step S 406 . 
         [0028]    The processor  130  may set a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries based on the reference rendering direction, at step S 408 . In one embodiment referring to  FIG. 6 , the processor  130  may set the first rendering direction  621  by rotating 90 degrees from the reference rendering direction  610 , the second rendering direction  622  by rotating 180 degrees from the reference rendering direction  610  and the third rendering direction  623  by rotating 270 degrees from the reference rendering direction  610 . 
         [0029]    The number of rendering directions may not be limited thereto. The processor  130  may set a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to x, y and z axes of three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, respectively, based on the reference rendering direction. 
         [0030]    The processor  130  may render the volume data along the plurality of rendering directions to form the plurality of preview images corresponding to the plurality of rendering directions, at step S 410 . The preview images may include the three-dimensional ultrasound images. 
         [0031]    The processor  130  may control display of the plurality of preview images, at step S 412 . In one embodiment, the processor  130  may divide a screen region of the display unit  150  into a plurality of division regions and may display the plurality of preview images on the division regions. Therefore, a user may select at least one preview image among the plurality of preview images by using the user interface  120 . 
         [0032]    When the input information is provided from the user interface  120 , at step S 414 , the processor  130  may control display of the preview image corresponding to the input information among the plurality of preview images, at step S 416 . In one embodiment, the processor  130  may control display of the preview image corresponding to the input information only. In another embodiment, the processor  130  may control displaying of enlarged preview image corresponding to the input information only. 
         [0033]    Alternatively, the processor  130  may set the rendering direction of the preview image corresponding to the input information as the reference rendering direction. 
         [0034]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the memory  140  may store the plurality of ultrasound data acquired by the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 . Furthermore, the memory  140  may store the volume data formed by the processor  130 . 
         [0035]    The display unit  150  may display the plurality of preview images formed by the processor  130 . Furthermore, the display unit  150  may display the preview image corresponding to the input information provided from the user interface  120 . Furthermore, the display unit  150  may display a reference three-dimensional ultrasound image formed by the processor  130 . 
         [0036]    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 embodiments. 
         [0037]    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.