Patent Publication Number: US-2011060223-A1

Title: Providing a three-dimensional ultrasound image based on an ellipsoidal region of interest in an ultrasound system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0084254 filed on Sep. 8, 2009, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to ultrasound systems, and more particularly to providing a 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound image based on an ellipsoidal region of interest (ROI) in an ultrasound system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An ultrasound system has become an important and popular diagnostic tool since it has a wide range of applications. Specifically, due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature, the ultrasound system has been extensively used in the medical profession. Modern high-performance ultrasound systems and techniques are commonly used to produce two or three-dimensional diagnostic images of internal features of an object (e.g., human organs). 
     The ultrasound system may provide a 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound image including clinical information such as spatial information and anatomical figures of a target object, which cannot be provided through a 2D (two-dimensional) ultrasound image. The ultrasound system may transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to thereby form volume data. The ultrasound system may further set a region of interest (ROI) for obtaining the 3D ultrasound image on the volume data. The ultrasound system may further render volume data corresponding to the ROI to thereby form the 3D ultrasound image. 
     Generally, the ROI has been limited to the shape of a hexahedron. When the ROI is set on the volume data to obtain the 3D ultrasound image corresponding to an object of interest (e.g., kidney, gall bladder, prostate, ovary, etc.) within the target object, the ROI includes the object of interest as well as unnecessary regions. Thus, it is a problem in that the 3D ultrasound image corresponding to the object of interest cannot only be formed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments for providing a plurality of slice images in an ultrasound system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output a plurality of ultrasound data; a user input unit configured to receive input information; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the user input unit, the processing unit being configured to form volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data, set an ellipsoidal region of interest (ROI) on the volume data based on the input information and render volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a method of providing a 3D ultrasound image, comprising: a) acquiring a plurality of ultrasound data for a target object; b) forming volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data; c) setting an elliptical region of interest (ROI) on the volume data based on input information from a user; d) setting an ellipsoidal ROI on the volume data based on the elliptical ROI; and e) rendering volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form a 3D ultrasound image. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions configured to perform the following acts: a) acquiring a plurality of ultrasound data for a target object; b) forming volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data; c) setting an elliptical region of interest (ROI) on the volume data based on input information from a user; d) setting an ellipsoidal ROI on the volume data based on the elliptical ROI; and e) rendering volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form a 3D ultrasound image. 
     The 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 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of an ultrasound data acquisition unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an example of acquiring ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of a processing unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a process of forming a 3D (three-dimensional) ultrasound image. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of volume data. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reference plane image and an elliptical region of interest (ROI). 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of an ellipsoidal ROI. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing an example of an YZ plane image and an XZ plane image, which are displayed with the reference plane image. 
     
    
    
     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 , an ultrasound system  100  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment is shown. As depicted therein, the ultrasound system  100  may include an ultrasound data acquisition unit  110 . The ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may be configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output ultrasound data. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of the ultrasound data acquisition unit. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  may include a transmit (Tx) signal generating section  210 , an ultrasound probe  220 , a beam former  230  and an ultrasound data forming section  240 . 
     The Tx signal generating section  210  may be configured to generate Tx signals. The Tx signal generating section  210  may generate the Tx signals at every predetermined time to thereby form a plurality of Tx signals for obtaining a plurality of frames F i (1≦i≦N) representing the target object, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The frame may include a brightness mode (B mode) image. However, it should be noted herein that the frame may not be limited thereto. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing an example of acquiring ultrasound data corresponding to the plurality of frames F i (1≦i≦N). The plurality of frames F i (1≦i≦N) may represent sectional planes of the target object (not shown). 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the ultrasound probe  220  may include a plurality of elements (not shown) for reciprocally converting between ultrasound signals and electrical signals. The ultrasound probe  220  may be configured to transmit ultrasound signals into the target object in response to the Tx signals provided from the Tx signal generating section  210 . The ultrasound probe  220  may further receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to thereby output received signals. The received signals may be analog signals. The ultrasound probe  220  may include a 3D (three-dimensional) mechanical probe, a 2D (two-dimensional) array probe and the like. However, it should be noted herein that the ultrasound probe  220  may not be limited thereto. 
     The beam former  230  may be configured to convert the received signals provided from the ultrasound probe  220  into digital signals. The beam former  230  may further apply delays to the digital signals in consideration of distances between the elements and focal points to thereby output digital receive-focused signals. 
     The ultrasound data forming section  240  may be configured to form ultrasound data corresponding to each of the frames F i (1≦i≦N) based on the digital receive-focused signals provided from the beam former  230 . The ultrasound data forming section  240  may further perform various signal processing (e.g., gain adjustment) to the digital receive-focused signals. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the ultrasound system  100  may further include a user input unit  120 . The user input unit  120  may be configured to receive input information from a user. In one embodiment, the input information may include first input information for setting a reference plane, second input information for setting an elliptical region of interest (ROI), and third input information for adjusting size of an ellipsoidal ROI. The user input unit  120  may include a control panel, a mouse, a keyboard and the like. However, it should be noted herein that the user input unit  120  may not be limited thereto. 
     The ultrasound system  100  may further include a processing unit  130 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an illustrative embodiment of the processing unit. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the processing unit  130  may include a volume data forming section  410 , a plane setting section  420 , a plane image forming section  430 , an ROI setting section  440  and a rendering section  450 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing a process of forming a 3D ultrasound image. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the volume data forming section  410  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be configured to form volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data provided from the ultrasound data acquisition unit  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 , at step  5502 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the volume data. The volume data  610  may include a plurality of voxels (not shown) having brightness values. In  FIG. 6 , reference numerals  621  to  623  represent an A plane, a B plane and a C plane. The A plane  621 , the B plane  622  and the C plane  623  may be mutually orthogonal. Also, in  FIG. 6 , the axial direction may be a Tx direction of the ultrasound signals, the lateral direction may be a longitudinal direction of the elements, and the elevation direction may be a swing direction of the elements, i.e., a depth direction of a 3D ultrasound image. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the plane setting section  420  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be configured to set the reference plane on the volume data based on the input information (i.e., first input information) provided from the user input unit  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 , at step S 504 . The reference plane may be the A plane, the B plane or the C plane. However, it should be noted herein that the reference plane may not be limited thereto. 
     The plane image forming section  430  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be configured to form a reference plane image corresponding to the reference plane based on the volume data, at step S 506 . The reference plane image may be the B mode image. However, it should be noted herein that the reference plane image may not be limited thereto. The reference plane image may be displayed on a display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, a user may set the elliptical ROI on the reference plane image displayed on the display unit  140 . 
     The ROI setting section  440  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be configured to set the elliptical ROI on the reference plane of the volume data based on the input information (i.e., second input information) provided from the user input unit  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 , at step S 508 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the reference plane image and the elliptical ROI. As one example, when the input information (i.e., second input information) for setting the elliptical ROI  721  on the reference plane image  711  as shown in  FIG. 7  is provided from the user input unit  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the ROI setting section  440  as shown in  FIG. 4  may set the elliptical ROI  721  on the reference plane  710   a  of the volume data  610  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The elliptical ROI  721  may have an X axis having a radius A and a Y axis Y having a radius B, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The X axis and the Y axis may be mutually orthogonal. 
     The ROI setting section  440  as shown in  FIG. 4  may set a Z axis that is orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis on the volume data, at step S 510 . The ROI setting section  440  may set the ellipsoidal ROI  820  on the volume data  610  based on the elliptical ROI  721  and the Z axis having the radius C as shown in  FIG. 8 , at step S 512 . 
     The rendering section  450  as shown in  FIG. 4  may be configured to render volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form the 3D ultrasound image corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI  820 , at step S 514 . The rendering may include a ray casting rendering, a surface rendering and the like. 
     The plane setting section  420  as shown in  FIG. 4  may further set an YZ plane corresponding to the Y axis and the Z axis of the ellipsoidal ROI  820  and an XZ plane corresponding to the X axis and the Z axis of the ellipsoidal ROI  820  on the volume data  610 , at step S 516 . The YZ plane and the XZ plane may be orthogonal to the reference plane. 
     The plane image forming section  430  as shown in  FIG. 4  may further form a plane image (“an YZ plane image”)  712  corresponding to the YZ plane and a plane image (“an XZ plane image”)  713  corresponding to the XZ plane, as shown in  FIG. 9 , based on the volume data  610  as shown in  FIG. 8 , at step S 518 . The YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713  may include the B mode image. However, it should be noted herein that the YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713  may not be limited thereto. The YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713  may be displayed on the display unit  140  with the reference plane image  711 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus, the user may adjust the sizes of elliptical ROIs  721 ,  722  and  723  corresponding to the reference plane image  711 , the YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 9  to thereby adjust the size of the ellipsoidal ROI  820  set on the volume data  610 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The ROI setting section  440  as shown in  FIG. 4  may further reset the ellipsoidal ROI  820  set on the volume data  610  based on the input information (i.e., the third input information) provided from the user input unit  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 , at step S 520 . As one example, when the third input information for adjusting the sizes of elliptical ROIs  721 ,  722  and  723  corresponding to the reference plane image  711 , the YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 9  is provided from the user input unit  120 , the ROI setting section  440  may adjust the size of the ellipsoidal RIO  820  set on the volume data  610  to thereby reset the ellipsoidal RIO  820 . 
     The rendering section  450  as shown in  FIG. 4  may further render volume data corresponding to the reset ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form the 3D ultrasound image corresponding to the reset ellipsoidal ROI, at step S 522 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the ultrasound system  100  may further include the display unit  140 . The display unit  140  may display the reference image  711  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The display unit  140  may further display the YZ plane image  712  and the XZ plane image  713  with the reference image  711 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The display unit  140  may further display the 3D ultrasound image (not shown). 
     The ultrasound system  100  may further include a storage unit  150 . The storage unit  150  may store the volume data formed by the processing unit  130 . The storage unit  150  may include a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a flash memory and the like. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention may provide a computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions configured to perform following acts: a) acquiring a plurality of ultrasound data for a target object; b) forming volume data based on the plurality of ultrasound data; c) setting an elliptical region of interest (ROI) on the volume data based on input information from a user; d) setting an ellipsoidal ROI on the volume data based on the elliptical ROI; and e) rendering volume data corresponding to the ellipsoidal ROI to thereby form a 3D ultrasound image. The computer readable medium may comprise a floppy disk, a hard disk, a memory, a compact disk, a digital video disk, etc. 
     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.