US6012458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for tracking scan plane motion in free-hand three-dimensional ultrasound scanning using adaptive speckle correlation
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1998-03-20
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2018-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for tracking scan plane motion in free-hand three-dimensional ultrasound scanning using adaptive speckle correlation. The method employs a correlation index which adapts to different display dynamic range and post-processing filters. The method may include the following steps: choosing a kernel within each frame image for correlation calculations; rejecting duplicate image frames; measuring the degree of correlation between successive image frames; rejecting correlation estimates which may be associated with hand jitter and other artifacts; and computing the average frame-to-frame (i.e., interslice) spacing based on the average correlation estimate. This image-based motion tracking technique enables three-dimensional reconstruction with good geometric fidelity, without use of any external position-sensing device.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Y. L. Mo
- 👤 William Thomas Hatfield
- 👤 Steven C. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/02; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/06; G06T7/00; G06T7/30; G06T7/32; G06T7/97; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/13; A61B8/14; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8934; G01S15/8936; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from said object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in a scan plane; means coupled to said ultrasound transducer array for acquiring imaging data derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume; means for storing data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes; means for determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; means for computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes; a display monitor; and means for displaying a projected image on said display monitor which is a function of said spacing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for three-dimensional imaging of an object volume, comprising: an ultrasound transducer array for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from said object volume at a multiplicity of sample volumes in a scan plane; means coupled to said ultrasound transducer array for acquiring imaging data derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from each one of a multiplicity of scan planes through said object volume; means for storing data for each of a multiplicity of image frames corresponding to said multiplicity of scan planes; means for determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; means for computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes; a display monitor; and means for displaying a projected image on said display monitor which is a function of said spacing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said spacing is an average value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a degree of correlation comprise means for screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames comprise means for comparing said sum of absolute differences to a threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining a degree of correlation comprise means for estimating a respective correlation index for each pair of successive image frames and means for averaging said correlation index estimates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said spacing has a value d which is determined in accordance with the following equation: d=-D.sub.z ln(CI) where D z is a decorrelation length which is a characteristic of an elevational beam profile of said ultrasound transducer array and CI is an average of said correlation index estimates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for computing a spacing comprises a look-up table storing said value d.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for computing a spacing comprises a processor and means for inputting said decorrelation length D z into said processor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for tracking scan plane motion, comprising: an ultrasound scanner for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from a multiplicity of scan planes; means coupled to said ultrasound scanner for acquiring data for each of a multiplicity of image frames, the data for each of said imaging frames being derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from a respective one of said scan planes; means for determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; and means for computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for tracking scan plane motion, comprising: an ultrasound scanner for transmitting ultrasound beams and detecting ultrasound echoes reflected from a multiplicity of scan planes; means coupled to said ultrasound scanner for acquiring data for each of a multiplicity of image frames, the data for each of said imaging frames being derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from a respective one of said scan planes; means for determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; and means for computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said spacing is an average value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for determining a degree of correlation comprise means for screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames comprise means for comparing said sum of absolute differences to a threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for determining a degree of correlation comprise means for estimating a respective correlation index for each pair of successive image frames and means for averaging said correlation index estimates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as defined in claim 13, wherein said spacing has a value d which is determined in accordance with the following equation: d=-D.sub.z ln(CI) where D z is a decorrelation length which is a characteristic of an elevational beam profile of said ultrasound transducer array and CI is an average of said correlation index estimates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for computing a spacing comprises a look-up table storing said value d.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for computing a spacing comprises a processor and means for inputting said decorrelation length D z into said processor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for tracking scan plane motion, comprising: manually scanning an ultrasound scanner across an object; operating the ultrasound scanner to transmit ultrasound beams and detect ultrasound echoes reflected from a multiplicity of scan planes; acquiring data for each of a multiplicity of image frames, the data for each of said imaging frames being derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from a respective one of said scan planes; determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; and computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for tracking scan plane motion, comprising: manually scanning an ultrasound scanner across an object; operating the ultrasound scanner to transmit ultrasound beams and detect ultrasound echoes reflected from a multiplicity of scan planes; acquiring data for each of a multiplicity of image frames, the data for each of said imaging frames being derived from ultrasound echoes reflected from a respective one of said scan planes; determining a degree of correlation between the data of respective kernels of respective pairs of successive image frames, said respective degree of correlation being a function of a normalized sum of the absolute differences between corresponding data of said respective kernels; and computing, as a function of said degree of correlation, a spacing between successive ones of said multiplicity of scan planes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said spacing is an average value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said step of determining a degree of correlation comprises the step of screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 19, wherein said step of screening out substantially duplicate successive image frames comprise the step of comparing said sum of absolute differences to a threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said step of determining a degree of correlation comprises the steps of estimating a respective correlation index for each pair of successive image frames and averaging said correlation index estimates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as defined in claim 21, wherein said spacing has a value d which is determined in accordance with the following equation: d=-D.sub.z ln(CI) where D z is a decorrelation length which is a characteristic of an elevational beam profile of said ultrasound scanner and CI is an average of said correlation index estimates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said step of determining a degree of correlation is preceded by the step of identifying a kernel within a region of interest of an image frame that has a speckle pattern consistent with the absence of macroscopic structures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |