US5876342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for 3-D ultrasound imaging and motion estimation
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-30
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2017-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for 3-D ultrasound image registration and 3-D motion estimation. A calibrated 3-D speckle function is first pre-determined for the transducer and the tissue to be scanned. A series of image frames are identified and grouped into 3-D big and small blocks. Blocks representing speckle are identified and then, a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique is used to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimation based on decorrelation characteristics throughout the volume. For in-plane motion estimation, cross-correlation characteristics between pairs of frames are compared and, using a minimum sum absolute value technique, an estimate of in-plane motion is obtained. Fuzzy logic techniques are then used to obtain more accurate estimates. Finally, the out-of-plane motion estimate is updated based on decorrelation characteristics of the speckle frames used for the in-plane determination using a full width half maximum value technique.
Inventors
- 👤 Jian-Feng Chen
- 👤 Lee Weng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/20; G06T7/254; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames over said volume; determining a cross-correlation characteristic over pairs of frames; and using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames over said volume; determining a cross-correlation characteristic over pairs of frames; and using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a second decorrelation characteristic over said pairs of frames.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2, further comprising using said first and second decorrelation characteristic to determine an out-of-plane motion estimate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said determining a second decorrelation characteristic comprises obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, comprising using said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain an in-plane motion estimate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, comprising using said decorrelation characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining a first decorrelation characteristic comprises obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining a cross-correlation characteristic comprises obtaining a minimum sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
66 words
A system for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: means for generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; means for determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames; means for determining a cross-correlation characteristic of said frames; and means for using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
66 words
A system for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: means for generating a series of frames, said series of frames representing a volume; means for determining a first decorrelation characteristic of said frames; means for determining a cross-correlation characteristic of said frames; and means for using said decorrelation characteristic and said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain a motion estimate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for determining a second decorrelation characteristic over said frames.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 10, further comprising means for using said first and second decorrelation characteristic to determine an out-of-plane motion estimate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for determining a second decorrelation characteristic includes means for obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for using said cross-correlation characteristic to obtain an in-plane motion estimate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for using said decorrelation characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said means for determining a first decorrelation characteristic includes means for obtaining a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said means for determining a cross-correlation characteristic includes means for obtaining a minimum sum-absolute-difference characteristic.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: generating a series of frames; determining a first characteristic of said frames related to out-of-plane motion; determining a second characteristic of said frames relating to in-plane motion; and using said first and second characteristics to obtain a motion estimate wherein said first characteristic is a first decorrelation characteristic.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for generating a 3-D representation of a region of tissue scanned by a transducer, comprising: generating a series of frames; determining a first characteristic of said frames related to out-of-plane motion; determining a second characteristic of said frames relating to in-plane motion; and using said first and second characteristics to obtain a motion estimate wherein said first characteristic is a first decorrelation characteristic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 17, further comprising determining a third characteristic of said frames relating to out-of-plane motion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising using said third characteristic and said first characteristic to obtain an out-of-plane motion estimate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein said third characteristic is a second decorrelation characteristic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said third characteristic is obtained using a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said second characteristic is a cross-correlation characteristic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said cross-correlation characteristic is obtained using a minimum sum-absolute-difference technique.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said first characteristic is obtained using a full width half maximum value sum-absolute-difference technique.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |