Patent Publication Number: US-2016228098-A1

Title: Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and operating method thereof

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0018096, filed on Feb. 5, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One or more embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which may change a condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the position of an object of interest from a plurality of pieces of ultrasound data, an ultrasound diagnosis method using the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according thereto, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the ultrasound diagnosis method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses transmit ultrasound signals generated by transducers of a probe to an object and receive echo signals reflected from the object, thereby acquiring at least one image of an internal part of the object (e.g., soft tissue or blood flow). In particular, ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are used for medical purposes including observation of the interior of an object, detection of foreign substances, and diagnosis of damage to the object. Such ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses provide high stability, display images in real time, and are safe due to no radioactive exposure, compared to X-ray apparatuses. Therefore, ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses are widely used together with other image diagnosis apparatuses including a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, and the like. 
     An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits ultrasound waves to a fixed position or receives ultrasound waves from the fixed position. Accordingly, an ultrasound image of an object of interest may be acquired only when the object of interest is located at the fixed position. Also, deviation in the time for acquiring an ultrasound image, the reliability of an ultrasound image, or the quality of an ultrasound image varies greatly depending on the proficiency of a user. Also, even when the object of interest is well displayed on an ultrasound image, the position of the object of interest is changed on the ultrasound image according to a movement of the object of interest or a probe. Accordingly, the user may have difficulty performing diagnosis based on the ultrasound image. 
     Also, according to the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, when the user acquires an ultrasound image of the object of interest for a long time, lots of time and effort are taken to acquire the ultrasound image of the same object of interest. Also, according to the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, it is difficult to acquire an ultrasound image at a particular angle with respect to the object of interest. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments of the present inventive concept include an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which may obtain the position of an object of interest from a plurality of pieces of ultrasound data and change a condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the position of the object of interest, an ultrasound diagnosis method using the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according thereto, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the ultrasound diagnosis method. 
     According to the present exemplary embodiments, deviation in the diagnosis according to a user&#39;s measurement ability may be reduced. Also, difficulty occurring during using an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, such as disappearance of an object of interest in an ultrasound image due to a movement of the object of interest or a probe, may be reduced. 
     Also, when a user acquires an ultrasound image of the object of interest for a long time, the ultrasound image of the same object of interest may be easily acquired. Furthermore, an ultrasound image at a particular angle with respect to an object of interest may be easily acquired. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a data acquirer acquiring first ultrasound data and second ultrasound data with respect to an object, and a controller detecting a first position of an object of interest included in the object on the first ultrasound data, detecting a second position of the object of interest based on the first position, and changing a condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. 
     The controller may detect the second position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data based on a degree of correlation between at least one of pixel values and voxel values of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data and at least one of pixel values and voxel values on the second ultrasound data. 
     The controller may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam further based on the first position. 
     The controller may acquire a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data, acquire a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data, and change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. 
     The controller may acquire a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data, as the first coordinate value, and a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data, as the second coordinate value. 
     The controller may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the second position and a preset position. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may further include an input unit receiving a user&#39;s input for setting a region of interest (ROI) on a first ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data, wherein the controller detects the first position of the object of interest in the ROI. 
     The condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may include at least one of a receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, a width of an ultrasound beam, a steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and a focusing position of an ultrasound beam. 
     The controller may change in real time a condition for an ultrasound beam transmitted toward the object. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus may further include a display displaying a second ultrasound image including the object of interest based on the second ultrasound data, and displaying the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of a shape, a size, and a position of the first ultrasound image according to the change of the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept, a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes acquiring first ultrasound data with respect to an object including an object of interest, detecting a first position of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data, acquiring second ultrasound data with respect to the object, detecting a second position of the object of interest based on the first position on the second ultrasound data, and changing a condition for an ultrasound beam transmitted toward the object based on the second position. 
     The detecting of the second position may be based on a degree of correlation between at least one of pixel values and voxel values of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data and at least one of pixel values and voxel values on the second ultrasound data. 
     In the changing of the transceiving condition, the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may be changed further based on the first position. 
     The detecting of the first position may include acquiring a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data, the detecting of the second position comprises acquiring a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data, and the changing of the transceiving condition comprises changing the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. 
     The detecting of the first position may include acquiring a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data, as the first coordinate value, and the detecting of the second position comprises a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data, as the second coordinate value. 
     The changing of the transceiving condition may include changing the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the second position and a preset position. 
     The method may further include receiving a user&#39;s input for setting a region of interest (ROI) on a first ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data, wherein the detecting of the first position comprises detecting the first position of the object of interest in the ROI. 
     The condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may include at least one of a receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, a width of an ultrasound beam, a steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and a focusing position of an ultrasound beam. 
     A condition for an ultrasound beam transmitted toward the object may be changed in real time. 
     The method may further include displaying a second ultrasound image including the object of interest based on the second ultrasound data, and displaying the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of a shape, a size, and a position of the first ultrasound image according to the change of the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a wireless probe according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a process of acquiring ultrasound data, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images acquired based on ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an operation of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a process of acquiring ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images acquired based on ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates first ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a process in which an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment searches for a position of an object of interest in second ultrasound data; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the second ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a first position and a second position on volume data according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the first position and the second position in space according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a view for explaining a method of changing a transceiving condition of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are views for explaining a method of changing a transceiving condition of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart for describing a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     Hereinafter, the terms used in the specification will be briefly described, and then the present inventive concept will be described in detail. 
     The terms used in this specification are those general terms currently widely used in the art in consideration of functions regarding the present inventive concept, but the terms may vary according to the intention of those of ordinary skill in the art, precedents, or new technology in the art. Also, specified terms may be selected by the applicant, and in this case, the detailed meaning thereof will be described in the detailed description of the inventive concept. Thus, the terms used in the specification should be understood not as simple names but based on the meaning of the terms and the overall description of the inventive concept. 
     Throughout the specification, it will also be understood that when a component “includes” an element, unless there is another opposite description thereto, it should be understood that the component does not exclude another element and may further include another element. In addition, terms such as “ . . . unit”, “ . . . module”, or the like refer to units that perform at least one function or operation, and the units may be implemented as hardware or software or as a combination of hardware and software. 
     Throughout the specification, an “ultrasound image” refers to an image of an object, which is obtained using ultrasound waves. Furthermore, an “object” may be a human, an animal, or a part of a human or animal. For example, the object may be an organ (e.g., the liver, the heart, the womb, the brain, a breast, or the abdomen), a blood vessel, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the object may be a phantom. The phantom means a material having a density, an effective atomic number, and a volume that are approximately the same as those of an organism. For example, the phantom may be a spherical phantom having properties similar to a human body. 
     In the present specification, an object and an object of interest are used separately. For example, an object may be an examinee, that is, the object may be a person or an animal. In contrast, an object of interest is included in the object and may be a part of a person or an animal where a user desires to acquire an ultrasound image. 
     Furthermore, throughout the specification, a “user” may be, but is not limited to, a medical expert, such as a medical doctor, a nurse, a medical laboratory technologist, a medical image expert, or a technician who repairs a medical apparatus. 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  may include a probe  20 , an ultrasound transceiver  110 , an image processor  120 , a communication module  130 , a display  140 , a memory  150 , an input device  160 , and a controller  170 , which may be connected to one another via buses  180 . 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  may be a cart type apparatus or a portable type apparatus. Examples of portable ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses may include, but are not limited to, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) viewer, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a tablet PC. 
     The probe  20  transmits ultrasound waves to an object  10  in response to a driving signal applied by the ultrasound transceiver  110  and receives echo signals reflected by the object  10 . The probe  20  includes a plurality of transducers, and the plurality of transducers oscillate in response to electric signals and generate acoustic energy, that is, ultrasound waves. Furthermore, the probe  20  may be connected to the main body of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  by wire or wirelessly. According to embodiments of the present inventive concept, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  may include a plurality of probes  20 . 
     A transmitter  111  supplies a driving signal to the probe  20 . The transmitter  111  includes a pulse generator  117 , a transmission delaying unit  118 , and a pulser  119 . The pulse generator  117  generates pulses for forming transmission ultrasound waves based on a predetermined pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and the transmission delaying unit  118  delays the pulses by delay times necessary for determining transmission directionality. The pulses which have been delayed correspond to a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators included in the probe  20 , respectively. The pulser  119  applies a driving signal (or a driving pulse) to the probe  20  based on timing corresponding to each of the pulses which have been delayed. 
     A receiver  112  generates ultrasound data by processing echo signals received from the probe  20 . The receiver  112  may include an amplifier  113 , an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  114 , a reception delaying unit  115 , and a summing unit  116 . The amplifier  113  amplifies echo signals in each channel, and the ADC  114  performs analog-to-digital conversion with respect to the amplified echo signals. The reception delaying unit  115  delays digital echo signals output by the ADC  114  by delay times necessary for determining reception directionality, and the summing unit  116  generates ultrasound data by summing the echo signals processed by the reception delaying unit  115 . Also, according to embodiments of the present inventive concept, the receiver  112  may not include the amplifier  113 . In other words, if the sensitivity of the probe  20  or the capability of the ADC  114  to process bits is enhanced, the amplifier  113  may be omitted. 
     The image processor  120  generates an ultrasound image by scan-converting ultrasound data generated by the ultrasound transceiver  110  and displays the ultrasound image. The ultrasound image may be not only a grayscale ultrasound image obtained by scanning an object in an amplitude (A) mode, a brightness (B) mode, and a motion (M) mode, but also a Doppler image showing a movement of an object via a Doppler effect. The Doppler image may be a blood flow Doppler image showing flow of blood (also referred to as a color Doppler image), a tissue Doppler image showing a movement of tissue, or a spectral Doppler image showing a moving speed of an object as a waveform. 
     A B mode processor  123  extracts B mode components from ultrasound data and processes the B mode components. An image generator  122  may generate an ultrasound image indicating signal intensities as brightness based on the extracted B mode components. 
     Similarly, a Doppler processor  124  may extract Doppler components from ultrasound data, and the image generator  122  may generate a Doppler image indicating a movement of an object as colors or waveforms based on the extracted Doppler components. 
     According to an embodiment of the present inventive concept, the image generator  122  may generate a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image via volume-rendering with respect to volume data and may also generate an elasticity image by imaging deformation of the object  10  due to pressure. Furthermore, the image generator  122  may display various pieces of additional information in an ultrasound image by using text and graphics. In addition, the generated ultrasound image may be stored in the memory  150 . 
     A display  140  displays the generated ultrasound image. The display  140  may display not only an ultrasound image, but also various pieces of information processed by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  on a screen image via a graphical user interface (GUI). In addition, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  may include two or more displays  140  according to embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
     The communication module  130  is connected to a network  30  by wire or wirelessly to communicate with an external device or a server. The communication module  130  may exchange data with a hospital server or another medical apparatus in a hospital, which is connected thereto via a PACS. Furthermore, the communication module  130  may perform data communication according to the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standard. 
     The communication module  130  may transmit or receive data related to diagnosis of an object, e.g., an ultrasound image, ultrasound data, and Doppler data of the object, via the network  30  and may also transmit or receive medical images captured by another medical apparatus, e.g., a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, or an X-ray apparatus. Furthermore, the communication module  130  may receive information about a diagnosis history or medical treatment schedule of a patient from a server and utilizes the received information to diagnose the patient. Furthermore, the communication module  130  may perform data communication not only with a server or a medical apparatus in a hospital, but also with a portable terminal of a medical doctor or patient. 
     The communication module  130  is connected to the network  30  by wire or wirelessly to exchange data with a server  32 , a medical apparatus  34 , or a portable terminal  36 . The communication module  130  may include one or more components for communication with external devices. For example, the communication module  130  may include a local area communication module  131 , a wired communication module  132 , and a mobile communication module  133 . 
     The local area communication module  131  refers to a module for local area communication within a predetermined distance. Examples of local area communication techniques according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept may include, but are not limited to, wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), ultra wideband (UWB), infrared data association (IrDA), Bluetooth low energy (BLE), and near field communication (NFC). 
     The wired communication module  132  refers to a module for communication using electric signals or optical signals. Examples of wired communication techniques according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept may include communication via a twisted pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, and an Ethernet cable. 
     The mobile communication module  133  transmits or receives wireless signals to or from at least one selected from a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signals may be voice call signals, video call signals, or various types of data for transmission and reception of text/multimedia messages. 
     The memory  150  stores various data processed by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100 . For example, the memory  150  may store medical data related to diagnosis of an object, such as ultrasound data and an ultrasound image that are input or output, and may also store algorithms or programs which are to be executed in the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100 . 
     The memory  150  may be any of various storage media, e.g., a flash memory, a hard disk drive, EEPROM, etc. Furthermore, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  may utilize web storage or a cloud server that performs the storage function of the memory  150  online. 
     The input device  160  refers to a means via which a user inputs data for controlling the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100 . The input device  160  may include hardware components, such as a keypad, a mouse, a touch pad, a touch screen, and a jog switch. However, embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto, and the input device  160  may further include any of various other input units including an electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring module, a respiration measuring module, a voice recognition sensor, a gesture recognition sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, an iris recognition sensor, a depth sensor, a distance sensor, etc. 
     The controller  170  may control all operations of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100 . In other words, the controller  170  may control operations among the probe  20 , the ultrasound transceiver  110 , the image processor  120 , the communication module  130 , the display  140 , the memory  150 , and the input device  160  shown in FIG. 
     All or some of the probe  20 , the ultrasound transceiver  110 , the image processor  120 , the communication module  130 , the display  140 , the memory  150 , the input device  160 , and the controller  170  may be implemented as software modules. However, embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto, and some of the components stated above may be implemented as hardware modules. Furthermore, at least one selected from the ultrasound transceiver  110 , the image processor  120 , and the communication module  130  may be included in the controller  170 . However, embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless probe  200  according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept. As described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , the wireless probe  200  may include a plurality of transducers, and, according to embodiments of the present inventive concept, may include some or all of the components of the ultrasound transceiver  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The wireless probe  200  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  includes a transmitter  210 , a transducer  220 , and a receiver  230 . Since descriptions thereof are given above with reference to  FIG. 1 , detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here. In addition, according to embodiments of the present inventive concept, the wireless probe  200  may selectively include a reception delaying unit  233  and a summing unit  234 . 
     The wireless probe  200  may transmit ultrasound signals to the object  10 , receive echo signals from the object  10 , generate ultrasound data, and wirelessly transmit the ultrasound data to the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits ultrasound waves to a fixed position or receives ultrasound waves from the fixed position. Accordingly, an ultrasound image of an object of interest may be acquired only when the object of interest is located at the fixed position. Also, deviation in the time for acquiring an ultrasound image, the reliability of an ultrasound image, or the quality of an ultrasound image varies greatly according to proficiency of a user. Also, even when the object of interest is well displayed on an ultrasound image, the position of the object of interest is changed on the ultrasound image according to a movement of the object of interest or a probe. Accordingly, the user may have difficulty performing diagnosis based on the ultrasound image. Thus, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus which may enable a user to acquire an ultrasound image more easily, and a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus are demanded. 
     In the following description, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method are described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 17 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  refers to all electronic apparatuses capable of receiving, processing, and/or outputting an ultrasound image, and may be used in medical imaging apparatuses such as an ultrasound imaging apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may be included in a medical imaging apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may include a data acquirer  310  and a controller  320 . 
     The data acquirer  310  may acquire first ultrasound data and second ultrasound data about an object. Although the data acquirer  310  may acquire ultrasound data by scanning the object using an ultrasound signal, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. In an example, the data acquirer  310 , which may correspond to the ultrasound transceiver  110  of  FIG. 1 , may receive an ultrasound echo signal transmitted by the probe  20  and acquire ultrasound data by using a received ultrasound echo signal. 
     In another example, the data acquirer  310  may receive scan information obtained as a scanning apparatus outside the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  scans the object, for example, ultrasound data generated by converting the ultrasound echo signal, and acquire ultrasound data based on the scan information. In another example, the data acquirer  310  may receive ultrasound image data from an external apparatus through the network  30 . However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound data in various methods. 
     The first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may be volume data that is three-dimensional data. The first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include a plurality of voxels. A voxel value may include at least one of a luminance value and a color value of a corresponding voxel. The volume data may include a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional data. 
     Also, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may be plane data that is two-dimensional data. The first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include a plurality of pixel values. A pixel value may include at least one of a luminance value and a color value of a corresponding pixel. 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire volume data by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound beam at a predetermined sampling cycle. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the second ultrasound data after acquiring the first ultrasound data. For example, when the first ultrasound data is the volume data acquired at a first cycle, the second ultrasound data may be the volume data acquired at a cycle next to the first cycle. In general, a sampling cycle may have a unit of milliseconds (ms). Accordingly, movements of the object of interest and the probe may not be large between sampling cycles, and the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include images of the object of interest at relatively similar positions. Also, the image of the object of interest may include similar pixel values or voxel values. 
     Also, according to image processing capability of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300 , the second ultrasound data may be acquired after a predetermined cycle passes after the first ultrasound data is acquired. For example, when the image processing capability of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  is poor, the image process according to the present exemplary embodiment may not be performed on the volume data acquired between the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data. In other words, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may not acquire the position of the object of interest in the volume data acquired between the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data. However, the volume data acquired between the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may be displayed on the display  140  of  FIG. 1 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may improve efficiency by performing the image processing according to the present exemplary embodiment only on the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data. Also, since an interval between the time when the first ultrasound data is acquired and the time when the second ultrasound data is acquired is still short, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include images of the object of interest at relatively similar positions. Also, the object of interest may have a similar pixel value or voxel value. 
     The controller  320  may detect a first position of the object of interest included in the object on the first ultrasound data. Also, the controller  320  may detect a second position of the object of interest based on the first position on the second ultrasound data. Also, the controller  320  may change a condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. 
     The controller  320  may perform at least one of the functions of the controller  170  and the image processor  120  of  FIG. 1 . The controller  320  may be at least one of the controller  170  and the image processor  120 . Also, the controller  320  may be hardware separate from the controller  170  and the image processor  120 . 
     The first position or the second position may be a predetermined position or area included the object of interest on the volume data. For example, the first position or the second position may be a center point, a right end point, a left end point, an upper end point or a lower end point of the object of interest. Also, the first position or the second position may be a predetermined area in the object of interest. Also, the first position or the second position may be presented by a coordinate value of a voxel on the volume data. 
     As described above, since the interval between the time when the first ultrasound data is acquired and the time when the second ultrasound data is acquired may be short, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include images of the object of interest at relatively similar positions. For example, the controller  320  may detect the first position of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. When the first position is a first coordinate value of a voxel on the volume data, the controller  320  may find the object of interest at around the first coordinate value on the second ultrasound data. Also, when finding the object of interest, the controller  320  may detect the second position. 
     The controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. The condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may include at least one of a receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, a width of an ultrasound beam, a steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and a focusing position of an ultrasound beam. 
     For example, the controller  320  may adjust the receiving depth of an ultrasound beam to scan the second position. Also, the controller  320  may adjust the width of an ultrasound beam to scan the second position. 
     Also, the controller  320  may control an ultrasound beam to be output toward the second position. The controller  320  may change the steering angle of an ultrasound beam. The steering angle is an angle between the ultrasound beam and a surface made by transducers included in a probe. When the object of interest is inclined toward the right side on an ultrasound image, the controller  320  changes the steering angle so that the object of interest may be located at the center of the ultrasound image. Also, the controller  320  may change the focusing position of an ultrasound beam. Accordingly, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a clear ultrasound image with respect to the object of interest. 
     Also, the controller  320  may change, in real time, the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. Accordingly, a user may check, in real time, an ultrasound image transceived according to a changed transceiving condition. 
     In the following description, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment are described below in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a process of acquiring ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire volume data by scanning an object  400  using a probe  420 . The probe  420  may output an ultrasound beam  421 . An output ultrasound beam  422  may be reflected by the object  400 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  receives a reflected signal, thereby acquiring the volume data. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , since the ultrasound beam  421  does not point at an object of interest  410 , the acquired volume data may not contain information related to the object of interest  410 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may generate an ultrasound image based on the volume data. While checking the ultrasound image, the user may correct the position and angle of the probe. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire volume data by scanning the object  400  using the probe  420 . Since the ultrasound beam  422  points at the object of interest  410 , the acquired volume data may contain information related to the object of interest  410 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may generate an ultrasound image based on the volume data. When the probe  420  faces the object of interest  410 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the volume data. For example, the volume data may be the first ultrasound data. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images acquired based on ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     When the probe  420  points the object of interest  410 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , an ultrasound image  510  may be acquired as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . An image  511  of the object of interest may be displayed on the ultrasound image  510 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5B , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire volume data, and the volume data may be first ultrasound data. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound image  510  based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may include an input unit (not shown) that may receive an input from the user. The input unit may receive from the user an input to set a region of interest (ROI) on the first ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data. The input unit may identically correspond to the input device  160  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The input unit may receive a user&#39;s input. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may move a marker  530  based on the user&#39;s input on the ultrasound image  510 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may set a predetermined ROI  520 . The ROI  520  may be an area including the image  511  of the object of interest. 
     The controller  320  may detect a first position of the image  511  of the object of interest in the ROI  520 . For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the image  511  of the object of interest by comparing the ROI  520  with a predetermined image. The predetermined image may be an image of the object of interest of an examinee that is previously acquired by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300 . Also, the predetermined image may be a reference image of the object of interest stored by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  where the object of interest is well displayed. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may perform image processing on the ROI  520  in the ultrasound image  510  so that the image  511  of the object of interest is well displayed. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire an outline by performing image processing on the ROI  520 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ROI  520  as the image  511  of the object of interest. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect the first position of the object of interest based on the image  511  of the object of interest that is acquired. Since the first position is described above, a detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a second position of the object of interest based on the first position. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam further based on the first position. In the following description, the operation of the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  is described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 16 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates first ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the first ultrasound data may include a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional data  1021 ,  1022 ,  1023 , and  1024 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound image  510  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  based on the two-dimensional data  1022 . In other words, the ultrasound image  510  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  may correspond to the two-dimensional data  1022 . 
     The pieces of two-dimensional data may signify parallel planes included in the volume data. Also, the two-dimensional data may be data of one slice included in the volume data. 
     The controller  320  may detect the first position of an object of interest  1010  in the ROI. Also, the controller  320  may acquire a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data. 
     The first position may be a predetermined position or area included in the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. For example, the first position may be a center point, a right end point, a left end point, an upper end point, or a lower end point in the object of interest. Also, the first position may be a predetermined area in the object of interest. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may present the first position as a figure such as a circle or a rectangle in the object of interest. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire certain point in the figure as the first position. Also, the first position may be indicated by a coordinate value of a voxel on the first ultrasound data. 
     As described above, the first position may be indicated by a coordinate value of a voxel in the first ultrasound data. Each of the two-dimensional data  1021 ,  1022 ,  1023 , and  1024  may have different y coordinate values. For example, a y coordinate value of the two-dimensional data  1021  may be y0. Also, a y coordinate value of the two-dimensional data  1022  including the object of interest  1010  may be y1. 
     Each voxel in the two-dimensional data  1022  may have a coordinate value with respect to x and z axes. The first position of the object of interest  1010  may be a center point  1011  of the object of interest  1010 . The center point  1011  may be calculated with an average of the coordinate values of all the voxels included in the object of interest  1010 . The center point  1011  of the object of interest  1010  may have, for example, a coordinate value “(x1, z1)” in the two-dimensional data  1022 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a coordinate value “(x1, y1, z1)” as the first position of the object of interest  1010 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a process in which the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  according to an exemplary embodiment searches for a position of an object of interest in the second ultrasound data. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the second ultrasound data after a predetermined time passes after the first ultrasound data is acquired. For the predetermined time, the user may change the position of the probe. Also, while the probe may stand still, the object may move. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the second ultrasound data after the position of the probe is changed or the object moves. 
     Since the predetermined time that is the interval between the time when the first ultrasound data is acquired and the time when the second ultrasound data is acquired is short, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may include images of the object of interest at relatively similar positions. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect the position of the object of interest in the second ultrasound data based on the two-dimensional data  1110  included in the second ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound image based on the second ultrasound data. While checking the ultrasound image, the user may check a process in which the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  detects the object of interest. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may receive a user&#39;s input and detect the position of the object of interest in the second ultrasound data based on the user&#39;s input. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect the second position  1122  of the object of interest based on a first position  1121  of the object of interest. For example, since the predetermined time that is the interval between the time when the first ultrasound data is acquired and the time when the second ultrasound data is acquired is short, as described above, the second position  1122  may be detected around the first position  1121 . 
     In detail, referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first position  1121  may be indicated by the coordinate value “(x1, y1, z1)” as described with reference to  FIG. 10 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may search for the object of interest around the coordinate value “(x1, y1, z1)” that is the first position  1121  on the second ultrasound data. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect whether the object of interest exists within a predetermined distance around the coordinate value “(x1, y1, z1)” on the second ultrasound data. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may search whether the object of interest exists in an area  1131  including the first position  1121  on the second ultrasound data. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a second position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data based on a degree of correlation between at least one of pixel values and voxel values of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data and at least one of pixel values and voxel values on the second ultrasound data. To detect the second position, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists on the second ultrasound data. 
     Since a predetermined time between the time when the first ultrasound data is acquired and the time when the second ultrasound data is acquired is short, as described above, the first ultrasound data and the second ultrasound data may be similar to each other. Also, the pixel values included in an image of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data may be similar to the pixel values included in an image of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data. Accordingly, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect, on the second ultrasound data, pixel values similar to the pixel values included in the image of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. 
     For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in the area  1131  by comparing an image of the area  1131  of the second ultrasound data and an image of the object of interest of the first ultrasound data. The area  1131  may be an area including a coordinate on the second ultrasound data corresponding to the coordinate of the position of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. 
     When a degree of correlation between the pixel values included in the image of the area  1131  and the pixel values included in the image of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in the area  1131 . Whether the object of interest exists in the area  1131  may be determined by comparing the area  1131  and the ROI of  FIG. 5B . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may calculate a degree of correlation by using a statistical method such as correlation. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto and various correlation degree measurement methods may be used therefor. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire an outline of the image of the object interest in the first ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may compare the outline of the image shown in the area  1131  with the outline of the object of interest of the first ultrasound data. When the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  compares only the outline, efficiency of data processing may be improved. 
     Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in the area  1131  by comparing the area  1131  with a reference image of the object of interest where the object of interest is well displayed. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in the area  1131  considering the pieces of volume data acquired prior to the first ultrasound data. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine that the object of interest does not exist in the area  1131 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in other area around the area  1131 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in a certain area around the area  1131 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in a certain area around the area  1131  by detecting the movement of the probe or based on the statistic data about the movement of the object. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in an area  1132 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine that the object of interest does not exist in the area  1132 . However, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may estimate that a part of the object of interest exists in the upper left corner of the area  1132 . Accordingly, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine whether the object of interest exists in an area  1133  at the upper left corner of the area  1132 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine that the object of interest exists in the area  1133 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect the second position of the object of interest existing in the area  1133 . 
     Although  FIG. 11  is described in two dimensions for convenience of explanation, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect the second position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data in three dimensions. The controller  320  may detect the second position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data based on a degree of correlation between the voxel values of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data and the voxel values of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data. Also, the process of searching for the position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data may be performed not only by the above-described method but also by various well-known methods. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the second ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the controller  320  may detect the second position of an object of interest  1210  in an ROI. Also, the controller  320  may acquire a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data. 
     The second position may be a predetermine position or area included in the object of interest on the second ultrasound data. For example, the second position may be a center point, a right end point, a left end point, an upper end point, or a lower end point in the object of interest. Also, the first position may be a predetermined area in the object of interest. Also, the second position may be a predetermined area in the object of interest. Also, the second position may be indicated by a coordinate value of a voxel on the second ultrasound data. 
     As described above, the second position may be indicated by a coordinate value of a voxel in the second ultrasound data. Each of a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional data  1221 ,  1222 ,  1223 , and  1224  may have different y coordinate values. For example, a y coordinate value of the two-dimensional data  1221  may be y0. Also, a y coordinate value of the two-dimensional data  1222  including the object of interest  1210  may be y2. 
     Each voxel in the two-dimensional data  1222  may have a coordinate value with respect to x and z axes. The second position of the object of interest  1210  may be a center point  1211  of the object of interest. The center point  1211  of the object of interest may have, for example, a coordinate value “(x2, z2)” in the two-dimensional data  1222 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a coordinate value “(x2, y2, z2)” as the first position of the object of interest  1210 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a first position and a second position on volume data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may include image information of an object of interest  1310  in one piece of two-dimensional data  1301  included in the first ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a voxel coordinate of a center point of the object of interest  1310  on the two-dimensional data  1301 . A voxel coordinate of the center point of the object of interest  1310  of the first ultrasound data may be “(x1, y1, z1)”. 
     Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may include image information of an object of interest  1320  in one piece of two-dimensional data  1302  included in the second ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a voxel coordinate of a center point of the object of interest  1320  on the two-dimensional data  1302 . A voxel coordinate of the center point of the object of interest  1320  of the second ultrasound data may be “(x2, y2, z2)”. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between a voxel coordinate value indicating a first position on the first ultrasound data and a voxel coordinate value indicating a second position on the second ultrasound data. The difference value may be a difference or displacement of a coordinate value. Also, the difference value in the voxel coordinate value may be indicated by a vector that is “(x2−x1, y1−y2, z1−z3)”. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the direction and size of a vector. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the first position and the second position in space according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may include a probe  1410 . The probe  1410  may have a transducer array  1411 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may steer an ultrasound beam by using the transducer array  1411 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have a coordinate of a voxel on the volume data correspond to a coordinate in space. 
     In  FIGS. 10 to 13 , the coordinate of a voxel on the volume data is indicated on an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. In  FIG. 14 , a coordinate in space may be indicated by an a-axis, a b-axis, and a c-axis. The origin of the a-axis, the b-axis, and the c-axis may be a lower left point of the transducer array  1411 . However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the original of the a-axis, the b-axis, and the c-axis may be the center, lower left, or upper right point of the transducer array  1411 . The unit of the a-axis, the b-axis, and the c-axis may be, for example, mm or cm, which is a unit of length. The x-axis may correspond to the a-axis. Also, the y-axis may correspond to the b-axis. Also, the z-axis may correspond to the c-axis. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have the first position and the second position that are coordinates of voxels on the volume data of  FIG. 13  correspond to coordinates in space. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have mapping data that transforms a coordinate of a voxel to a space coordinate and a transformation function that transforms a coordinate of a voxel to a space coordinate. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have the first position on the first ultrasound data correspond to a position  1401  in space. Also, a coordinate of the position  1401  in space may be “(a1, b1, c1)”. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have the second position on the second ultrasound data correspond to a position  1402  in space. Also, a coordinate of the position  1402  in space may be “(a2, b2, c2)”. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between a space coordinate value corresponding to the first position on the first ultrasound data and a space coordinate value corresponding to the second position on the second ultrasound data. The difference value between the space coordinate values may be indicated by a vector that may be a coordinate “(a2−a1, b2−b1, c2−c1)”. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the difference value between the space coordinate values. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may focus an ultrasound beam at an object of interest  1400  based on the difference value between the space coordinate values. 
       FIG. 15  is a view for explaining a method of changing a transceiving condition of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     The controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. Also, the controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam further based on the first position. Also, the controller  320  may acquire a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data. Also, the controller  320  may acquire a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data. Also, the controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 15 , the position of the object of interest on the pieces of volume data may be changed. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a first position  1311  of the object of interest  1310  on the first ultrasound data. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a second position  1321  of the object of interest  1320  on the second ultrasound data. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the difference value between the first position and the second position. 
     The volume data may include a plurality of pieced of two-dimensional data. In  FIG. 15 , for convenience of explanation, a case in which the first position and the second position exist on the same two-dimensional data  1300  is illustrated. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the first position  1311  of the object of interest  1310  on the two-dimensional data  1300 . The first position  1311  may be a center point of the object of interest  1310 . Also, the first position  1311  may be indicated by a coordinate value “(x1, z1)”. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the second position  1321  of the object of interest  1320  on the two-dimensional data  1300 . The second position  1321  may be a center point of the object of interest  1320 . Also, the second position  1321  may be indicated by a coordinate value “(x2, z2)”. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a difference value between the first position  1311  and the second position  1321 . The difference value may be a vector that may be indicated by a coordinate “(x2−x1, z2−z1)”. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire an angle  1510  formed between the z axis and the vector. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may calculate the angle  1510  by using a function “a tan(|x2−x1|/|z2−z1|)”. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change a steering angle  1520  of an ultrasound beam based on the angle  1510 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the volume data by using the changed steering angle  1520 . Also, the acquired volume data may include two-dimensional data  1530 . 
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  are views for explaining a method of changing a transceiving condition of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     The controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the second position. Also, the controller  320  may acquire a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data. Also, the controller  320  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on the difference value between the second position and a preset position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16A , the position of the object of interest may be changed on the pieces of volume data. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a second position  1620  of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data. As described with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second position may be detected based on the first position. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may have a preset position. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may store the preset position in the memory  150  of  FIG. 1 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the preset position based on a user&#39;s input. The preset position may be a position on the volume data where the object of interest is observed well. Also, the preset position may be a position on the ultrasound image where the object of interest is observed well. The preset position may be an area  1631  or a position  1632 . 
     When the preset position is the area  1631 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam so that at least a part of the object of interest enters the area  1631 . Also, when the preset position is a position  1632 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam so that the object of interest is located at the position  1632 . 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a coordinate value indicating the second position to be “(x2, z2)”. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a coordinate value indicating the preset position to be “(x3, z3)”. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire a difference value between a coordinate value indicating the second position and a coordinate value indicating the preset position. For example, a vector indicating the difference value may be “(x3−x2, z3−z2)”. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire an angle  1650  formed between the z-axis and the vector. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may calculate the angle  1650  by using a function “a tan(|x3−x2|/|z3−z2|)”. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16B , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change a steering angle  1660  of an ultrasound beam based on the angle  1650 . Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the volume data by using the changed steering angle  1660 . Also, the acquired volume data may include two-dimensional data  1670 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an operation of an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the user may move the position of a probe  610 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam  611  as described above with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 16 . Accordingly, although the probe  610  is moved, the ultrasound beam  611  may point at an object of interest  601 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images  700  and  710  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As described with reference to  FIG. 6 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam.  FIG. 7A  illustrates the ultrasound image  700  acquired by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  at a position of the probe  610  in  FIG. 6 . The ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may be the first ultrasound image based on the first data, and the ultrasound image  700  of  FIG. 7A  may be the second ultrasound image based on the second data. 
     An image  701  of the object of interest may be displayed on the ultrasound image  700 . The image  701  of the object of interest and the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  may be images of the object of interest viewed at different angles. The image  701  of the object of interest and the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  are different from each other because the position of the probe is moved and the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  changes the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. The mage  701  of the object of interest is an image viewed from the position of the probe  610  of  FIG. 6 . Also, the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  is an image viewed from the position of the probe  420  of  FIG. 4B . The user may easily acquire an image of the object of interest viewed from a different position only by changing the position of the probe. 
       FIG. 7B  illustrates the ultrasound image  710  acquired by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  at a position of the probe  610  in  FIG. 6 . The ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may be the first ultrasound image based on the first data, and the ultrasound image  710  of  FIG. 7B  may be the second ultrasound image based on the second data. 
     An image  711  of the object of interest may be displayed on the ultrasound image  710 . The image  711  of the object of interest and the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  may be images of the object of interest viewed at different angles. 
     The display  140  of  FIG. 1  may display the second ultrasound image including the object of interest based on the second ultrasound data. Also, the display  140  may display the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of the shape, size, and position of the first ultrasound image according to the change of the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam that includes at least one of the receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, the width of an ultrasound beam, the steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and the focusing position of an ultrasound beam. 
     The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transmitting an ultrasound beam so that the ultrasound beam may reach deep in the object. For example, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may transmit an ultrasound beam having a low frequency. Also, after transmitting an ultrasound beam, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may receive only an ultrasound echo signal reflected at a distance less than a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be a receiving depth of an ultrasound beam. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound image  710  based on the ultrasound echo signal reflected at a distance less than a receiving depth of an ultrasound beam. The receiving depth of an ultrasound beam may be related to a vertical length of the ultrasound image  710 . 
     The width of an ultrasound beam may be related to the horizontal length of the ultrasound image  710 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may determine the horizontal width of an ultrasound beam by using transducers. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may receive an ultrasound echo signal having a width less than a predetermined width among the reflected ultrasound echo signal. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire the ultrasound image  710  based on an ultrasound echo signal having a width less than the predetermined width. 
     Also, the steering angle of an ultrasound beam may be related to the inclination of the ultrasound image  710 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may transmit/receive an ultrasound beam at a predetermined steering angle. Since the steering angle of an ultrasound beam in the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  is described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , a detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     Also, the focusing position of an ultrasound beam may be related to an area having a high resolution on the ultrasound image  710 . In general, an area around a position at which the ultrasound beam is focused is an area having a high resolution on the ultrasound image  710 . 
     Also, the ultrasound image  710  and the ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may have different image widths and different vertical lengths. For example, the vertical length of the ultrasound image  710  may be longer than that of the ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A . This is because an arrival distance of the ultrasound beam  611  of  FIG. 6  is longer than that of the ultrasound beam  422  of  FIG. 4B . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a process of acquiring ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates the object  400  viewed from a lateral side thereof, and  FIG. 8A  illustrates an object  800  viewed from a front side thereof. The position of a probe  810  of  FIG. 8A  corresponds to that of the probe  420  of  FIG. 4B . An ultrasound beam  811  of  FIG. 8A  corresponds to that of the ultrasound beam  422  of  FIG. 4B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8A , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire volume data by scanning the object  800  by using the probe  810 . Since the ultrasound beam  811  points at the object of interest  801 , the acquired volume data may contain information related to the object of interest  801 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may generate an ultrasound image based on the volume data. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8B , the user may move the position of the probe  810 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam  812  as described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 16 . Accordingly, even when the probe  810  is moved, the ultrasound beam  812  may continuously points at the object of interest  801 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  schematically illustrate ultrasound images  900  and  910  acquired based on ultrasound data according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As described in  FIG. 8B , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam.  FIG. 9A  illustrates the ultrasound image  900  acquired by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  at a position of the probe  810  of  FIG. 8B . The ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may be the first ultrasound image based on the first data, and the ultrasound image  900  of  FIG. 9A  may be the second ultrasound image based on the second data. An image  901  of the object of interest may be displayed on the ultrasound image  900 . The image  901  of the object of interest and the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  may be images of the object of interest viewed at different angles. The user may easily acquire images of the object of interest viewed from different positions by only changing the position of the probe. The descriptions related to  FIG. 9A , which are already presented above with reference to  FIG. 7A , are omitted. 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates the ultrasound image  910  acquired by the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  at a position of the probe  810  of  FIG. 8B . The ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may be the first ultrasound image based on the first data, and the ultrasound image  910  of  FIG. 9B  may be the second ultrasound image based on the second data. An image  911  of the object of interest may be displayed on the ultrasound image  910 . The image  911  of the object of interest and the image  511  of the object of interest of  FIG. 5A  may be images of the object of interest viewed at different angles. 
     Also, the display  140  of  FIG. 1  may display the second ultrasound image including the object of interest based on the second ultrasound data. Also, the display  140  may display the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of the shape, size, and position of the first ultrasound image according to the change of the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. 
     For example, the ultrasound image  910  and the ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A  may have different inclinations. The ultrasound image  910  may be inclined to the right compared to the ultrasound image  510  of  FIG. 5A . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the steering angle of the ultrasound beam  812 . The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may display the ultrasound image  510  to be inclined to the right based on the changed steering angle. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may display the ultrasound image  510  not to be inclined through image processing. Also, although a case of changing the steering angle is described in the above description, as the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  changes the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam, such as the receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, the width of an ultrasound beam, the steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and the focusing position of an ultrasound beam, the display  140  may display the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of the shape, size, and position of the second ultrasound image. 
       FIG. 17  is a flowchart for describing a method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     An operation S 1710  may be performed by the data acquirer  310 . An operation S 1720  may be performed by the controller  320 . An operation S 1730  may be performed by the data acquirer  310 . An operation S 1740  may be performed by the controller  320 . An operation S 1750  may be performed by the controller  320 . 
     In the operation S 1710 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  according to the present exemplary embodiment may acquire first ultrasound data about an object including an object of interest. Also, in the operation S 1720 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a first position of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. Also, in the operation S 1730 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may acquire second ultrasound data about the object. In the operation S 1740 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may detect a second position of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data. In the operation S 1750 , the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus  300  may change the condition for an ultrasound beam transmitted toward the object based on the second position. 
     Also, the detecting of the second position may be based on a degree of correlation of a pixel value or a voxel value of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data. 
     Also, in the changing of the transceiving condition, the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may be changed further based on the first position. 
     Also, the detecting of the first position may include acquiring a first coordinate value indicating the first position on the first ultrasound data. Also, the detecting of the second position may include acquiring a second coordinate value indicating the second position on the second ultrasound data. Also, in the changing of the transceiving condition, the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may be changed based on a difference value between the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value. 
     Also, the detecting of the first position may include acquiring a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the first ultrasound data as the first coordinate value. Also, the detecting of the second position may include acquiring a coordinate value of a center point of the object of interest on the second ultrasound data as the second coordinate value. 
     Also, the changing of the transceiving condition may include changing the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam based on a difference value between the second position and a preset position. 
     Also, the method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment may further include receiving a user&#39;s input for setting an ROI on the first ultrasound image based on the first ultrasound data. Also, the detecting of the first position may further include detecting the first position of the object of interest in the ROI. 
     Also, the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam may include at least one of the receiving depth of an ultrasound beam, the width of an ultrasound beam, the steering angle of an ultrasound beam, and the focusing position of an ultrasound beam. 
     Also, the changing of the condition for an ultrasound beam transmitted toward the object may be performed in real time. 
     Also, the method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment may further include displaying a second ultrasound image including the object based on the second ultrasound data, and displaying the second ultrasound image by changing at least one of the shape, size, and position of the first ultrasound image according to the change of the condition for transceiving an ultrasound beam. 
     Also, a program for embodying the method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. 
     As described above, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to the above-described exemplary embodiment may easily acquire an ultrasound image of the object of interest at a different angle or the movement of a probe. Also, an ultrasound image may be easily acquired with respect to the object of interest by tracking the position of the object of interest. 
     Hardware may include at least one of a processor and memory. The term “processor” may be interpreted in a broader sense to include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, a microcontroller, state machine, etc. In some environments, the “processor” may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The term “processor” may refer to, for example, a combination of processing devices such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors coupled to a DSP core, or a combination of other structures, etc. 
     The term “memory” may be interpreted in a broad sense to include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. The term “memory” may refer to various types of processor-readable medium such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable-PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, a magnetic or optical data storage device, registers, etc. While the processor is capable of reading out information from memory and/or writing information to the memory, the memory is said to be in an electronic communication state with a processor. The memory integrated on the processor is in an electronic communication state with the processor. 
     The terms “commands” and “codes” may be interpreted in a broad sense to include any type of computer-readable text(s). For example, the terms “commands” and “codes” may refer to one or more programs, routines, sub-routines, procedures, etc. The terms “commands” and “codes” may include a single computer-readable text or many computer-readable texts 
     The present invention can be implemented as a method, an apparatus, and a system. When the present invention is implemented in software, its component elements are code segments that execute necessary operations. Programs or code segments can be stored in processor readable media and can be transmitted via a computer data signal that is combined with a carrier wave in a transmission medium or in a communication network. The processor readable medium can be any medium that can store or transmit data. Examples of the processor readable medium include electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROMs, flash memories, erasable ROMs (EROMs), floppy disks, optical disks, hard disks, optical fibers, radio frequency (RF) networks, etc. The computer data signal can be any signal that can be transmitted via transmission media, such as electronic network channels, optical fibers, air, an electronic field, RF networks, etc. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. 
     While one or more embodiments of the present inventive concept have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept as defined by the following claims.