Patent Publication Number: US-2011066031-A1

Title: Ultrasound system and method of performing measurement on three-dimensional ultrasound image

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0087394 filed on Sep. 16, 2009, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an ultrasound system, and more particularly to an ultrasound system and method of performing a measurement for points established on a three-dimensional (3D)-ultrasound image. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An ultrasound diagnostic system has been extensively used in the medical field due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature. The ultrasound diagnostic system can provide a high-resolution ultrasound image of the inside of a target object in real-time without resorting to any incisions. 
     A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image from the ultrasound diagnostic system may include clinical data such as spatial coordinates data, anatomical geometry and the like, which may not be sufficiently provided from a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image. Thus, the 3D-ultrasound image may be used in the medical field during diagnosis and surgical operations. Conventionally, at least two points may be established on a same 2D slice image of a 3D-ultrasound image and a distance between the two points may then be measured. However, if two or more points are established on different 2D slice images of the 3D-ultrasound image, then distances among the established points on the different 2D slice images may not be measured. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments for providing an ultrasound system and a method of performing a three-dimensional (3D) measurement for points established on a 3D-ultrasound image are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ultrasound system of performing a 3D measurement, which comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to acquire ultrasound data; a user interface configured to receive input data from a user; and a processor configured to form a 3D-ultrasound image based on volume data derived from the ultrasound data, establish two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data, generate connection data among the established two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image, and measure distances among the established two or more points based on the input data and the connection data. 
     In another embodiment, a method of measuring in an ultrasound system includes: transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to form ultrasound data; forming volume data based on the ultrasound data; receiving input data from a user; forming a 3D-ultrasound image based on the volume data; establishing two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data; generating connection data among the established two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image; and measuring distances among the established two or more points based on the input data and the connection data to thereby generate distance measurement data, wherein the established two or more points exist on different cross-sections of the 3D-ultrasound image, and the different cross-sections of the 3D-ultrasound image correspond to 2D slice images formed based on the volume data. 
     In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable recording medium is provided for storing a computer program thereon, said computer program including instructions, which when run on a computer, perform the following: transmitting ultrasound signals to a target object and receiving ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to form ultrasound data; forming volume data based on the ultrasound data; receiving input data from a user; forming a 3D-ultrasound image based on the volume data; establishing two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data; generating connection data among the established two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image; and measuring distances among the established two or more points based on the input data and the connection data to thereby generate distance measurement data, wherein the established two or more points exist on different cross-sections of the 3D-ultrasound image, and the different cross-sections of the 3D-ultrasound image correspond to 2D slice images formed based on the volume data. The computer readable recording medium may include a floppy disk, a hard drive, a memory, a compact disk, a digital video disk, and the like. 
     The Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified foam 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 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an ultrasound data acquisition unit in the ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a processor in the ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a process in the ultrasound system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a scan direction of 2D slice images of a 3D-ultrasound image in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative embodiment showing volume data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative embodiment showing 2D slice images corresponding to cross-section planes A to C crossed at right angles in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative embodiment showing points established on the 2D slice images according to input data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative embodiment showing points established on a 3D-ultrasound image according to the input data in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative embodiment showing connection data among the points established on the 3D-ultrasound image in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an illustrative embodiment showing distance measurement data among the points established on the 3D-ultrasound image in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description may be 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. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a block diagram illustrating an ultrasound system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure which embodies the methods of the present invention. The ultrasound system  100  may comprise an ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 , a user interface  120 , a processor  130  and a display unit  140 . 
     The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may be configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive reflected ultrasound signals, i.e., ultrasound echo signals, from the target object to acquire ultrasound data thereof. The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The user interface  120  may be configured to receive input data from a user. The user interface  120  may include a control panel, a mouse, a keyboard and a touch screen on which ultrasound images are displayed. However, it is not limited thereto. The input data from the user may include data for points to be established on regions of interest (ROIs) of a 3D-ultrasound image of the target object and/or of different 2D slice images thereof. In one embodiment, the input data may include 3D and/or 2D coordinate values of the points to be established, the number of points to be established, and/or data related to 2D slice images designated by the user for establishing the points. 
     The processor  130  may be configured to form the 3D-ultrasound image and 2D slice images thereof based on the ultrasound data from the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 . In response to the input data, the processor  130  may be configured to establish two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image and the 2D slice images thereof, and further provide connection data and distance measurement data for the established points. The processor  130  will be described further below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The display unit  140  may be configured to display the 3D-ultrasound image and/or the 2D slice images thereof The display unit  140  may be further configured to display the connection data and/or the distance measurement data over the 3D-ultrasound image and/or the 2D slice images thereof 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a block diagram showing the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  in the ultrasound system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may include a transmit signal formation unit  111 , an ultrasound probe  112  having a plurality of transducer elements (not shown), a beam former  113  and an ultrasound data formation unit  114 . 
     The transmit signal formation unit  111  may be configured to form the transmit signals for obtaining a series of 2D slice images F i  (1≦i≦N, N being an integer) shown in  FIG. 5  in consideration of positions and focusing points of the transducer elements in the ultrasound probe  112 . The series of 2D slice images F i  are represented in the form of a fan-shaped image as shown in  FIG. 5 , although they are not limited thereto. 
     In response to the transmit signals from the transmit signal formation unit  111 , the ultrasound probe  112  may be configured to convert the transmit signals into corresponding ultrasound signals and transmit them to the target object. The ultrasound probe  112  may be further configured to receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to form receive signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasound probe  112  may include at least one of a 3D probe and 2D-arrayed probe. 
     In response to the receive signals from the ultrasound probe  112 , the beam former  113  may be configured to convert the receive signals from analog into digital to form digital signals corresponding thereto. The beam former  113  may be further configured to receive-focus the digital signals in consideration of the positions and focusing points of the transducer elements in the ultrasound probe  112  to foam a receive-focus beam. 
     The ultrasound data formation unit  114  may be configured to form ultrasound data based on the receive-focus beam. In one embodiment, the ultrasound data formation unit  114  may be configured to perform various signal processes (e.g., gain adjustment, filtering, etc.) upon the receive-focus beam in order to form the ultrasound data. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is provided a block diagram showing the processor  130  in the ultrasound system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The processor  130  may include a volume data formation unit  131 , a slice image formation unit  132 , a slice image point establishment unit  133 , a 3D-ultrasound image formation unit  134 , a point establishment unit  135 , a connection data generation unit  136  and a distance measurement unit  137 . The foregoing functional units may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination thereof. Illustrative processor  130  may include a suitably programmed general purpose computer and associated computer-readable media. 
     The volume data formation unit  131  may be configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data from the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The volume data may include a plurality of voxels having brightness values. The slice image formation unit  132  may be configured to form the 2D slice images of the target object based on the volume data from the volume data formation unit  131 . The slice image point establishment unit  133  may be configured to establish two or more points on corresponding 2D slice images based on the input data from the user interface  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The corresponding 2D slice images may be different from each other. 
     The 3D-ultrasound image formation unit  134  may be configured to render the volume data from the volume data formation unit  131  to form the 3D-ultrasound image of the target object. The point establishment unit  135  may be configured to establish two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data from the user interface  120 . The connection data generation unit  136  may be configured to generate connection data among the two or more points established on the 3D-ultrasound image. The connection data may indicate relative coordinate values among the established points. The connection data may be provided to the display unit  140 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The distance measurement unit  137  may be configured to measure distances among the established points based on the connection data from the connection data generation unit  136  to form distance measurement data. The distance measurement data may be provided to the display unit  140 , as well as the connection data. The processor  130  may further include a movement estimation unit (not shown) for estimating movements of the established points on the 3D-ultrasound image and variations of the connection data by using, for example, cross correlation. In one exemplary embodiment, the movement estimation unit may calculate cross correlation at plural points on a subsequent 3D-ultrasound image centering on each of the established points on the current 3D-ultrasound image and select one out of the plural points having a maximum cross correlation with respect to the respective established points. Thereafter, the movement estimation unit may estimate movement of the established points and variations of the connection data based on the cross correlation result between the current and subsequent 3D-ultrasound images. 
     Hereinafter, operations of the processor  130  will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is provided a flow chart showing a series of processes performed in the processor  130  in the ultrasound system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The volume data formation unit  131  may form volume data  210  shown in  FIG. 6  based on the ultrasound data from the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  (S 102 ). In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , reference numerals  221  to  223  indicate cross-sections A, B and C, which are crossed at right angles, respectively. Also, as shown in  FIG. 6 , an axial direction indicates a propagation direction of the ultrasound signals starting from the transducer elements of the ultrasound probe  112 , a lateral direction represents a scan line direction of the ultrasound signals, and an elevation direction depicts a depth direction of the 3D-ultrasound image. 
     The slice image formation unit  132  may form a plurality of 2D slice images corresponding to cross-sections based on the volume data from the volume data formation unit  131  (S 104 ). In one embodiment, the 2D slice images may include first to third 2D slice images AI, BI and CI shown in  FIG. 7  corresponding to the cross-sections A, B and C  221  to  223 , respectively. The first to third 2D slice images AI, BI and CI may be displayed through the display unit  140  in a predetermined arrangement form (S 106 ). 
     Based on the input data from the user interface  120 , the slice image point establishment unit  133  may establish two or more points on the 2D slice images designated by the input data from the user interface  120  (S 108 ). In an exemplary embodiment, the input data may include data related to first and second points P 1  and P 2  to be established on the first 2D slice image AI corresponding to the cross-section A  221 , and a third point P3 to be established on the second 2D slice image BI corresponding to the cross-section B  222 . Then, based on the input data, the slice image point establishment unit  133  may establish the first and second point P 1  and P 2  on the first 2D slice image AI, and the third point P 3  on the second 2D slice image BI, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The 3D-ultrasound image formation unit  134  may render the volume data from the volume data formation unit  131  to form a 3D-ultrasound image  310  of the target object, as shown in  FIG. 9  (S 110 ). In an exemplary embodiment, rendering of the volume data in the 3D-ultrasound image formation unit  134  may include ray-casting rendering, surface rendering and the like. 
     The point establishment unit  135  may establish two or more points on the 3D-ultrasound image  310  from the 3D-ultrasound image formation unit  134  based on the input data (S 112 ). In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the point establishment unit  135  may establish the points P 1  and P 2  at corresponding positions of the cross-section A  221  of the 3D-ultrasound image  310 , and the point P 3  at a corresponding position of the cross-section B  222  of the 3D-ultrasound image  310 . 
     The connection data generation unit  136  may generate the connection data among the first to third points P 1  to P 3  established on the 3D-ultrasound image  310  and provide them to the display unit  140  (S 114 ). In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the connection data generation unit  136  may generate first connection data C 1  between the first and second points P 1  and P 2 , second connection data C 2  between the second and third points P 2  and P 3 , and third connection data C 3  between the first and third points P I  and P 3 . The display unit  140  may display the first to third connection data C 1  to C 3  in a predetermined arrangement form as shown in  FIG. 10 , although the displayed arrangement form is not limited thereto. 
     The distance measurement unit  137  may measure distances among the established points on the 3D-ultrasound image based on the input data and the connection data to thereby form distance measurement data (S 116 ). In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the distance measurement unit  137  may measure a distance between the first and second points P  1  and P 2  to form first distance measurement data (e.g., 26 mm), a distance between the second and third points P 2  and P 3  to form second distance measurement data (e.g., 19 mm), and a distance between the first and third points P 1  and P 3  to form third distance measurement data (e.g., 32 mm). The distance measurement data are described herein as numerical data, but they are not limited thereto. The distance measurement unit  137  may provide the distance measurement data to the display unit  140  (S 118 ). Then, the display unit  140  may display the first to third distance measurement data thereon at predetermined positions and in predetermined forms. 
     Although exemplary 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.