Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-07
2001-02-27
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S447000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193661
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally related to ultrasonic imaging and, more particularly, is related to a system and method for efficiently providing depth perception in two dimensional renderings of volumetric data using single dimension interpolation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern high performance ultrasound imaging systems are currently used for medical applications and other uses. Generally, such systems employ a sonic transducer to emit a sonic pulse through a medium such as the human body which generates echoes. These echoes are received by the transducer or other sensors captured in data that is stored and ultimately used to generate images on a display. Such images or renderings can be shown in real time to see movement within the medium, for example, the beating of a heart in a human body, or the renderings may be frozen in time, taking a snapshot of the medium at a given moment.
Attempts to achieve three dimensional renderings of various media have achieved limited success. In particular, such renderings are achieved in a time consuming, off-line process which is usually manually interactive. This fact limits the usefulness of such technology for use in medical or other related fields. In addition, for non-moving or frozen three dimensional renderings in particular, it is very difficult to appreciate the various features shown in such renderings due to a lack of depth perception. In particular, frozen three dimensional renderings do not have moving components which generally give a clue as to the depth of the component relative to other components as seen by the observer. Additionally, such renderings are characterized by a significant amount of gray speckle which makes it even more difficult to ascertain the features of the renderings obtained, even for those with significant experience viewing such renderings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for generating two dimensional renderings on a display device of acoustic volumetric data that provides depth perception to the user.
Briefly described, in architecture, the system can be implemented as follows. An acoustic data acquisition circuit which includes a sonic transducer and other components generates and stores an acoustic data set from medium such as a human body, etc. The system includes a scan converter that generates a perspective volumetric data set of the medium based upon the acoustic data set, and a single dimensional interpolator that generates at least one interpolated data set from the perspective volumetric data set. The perspective volumetric and interpolated data sets are processed by a compositor that generates two dimensional renderings of the perspective volumetric data set and the interpolated data sets. The system includes a display device which displays the two dimensional renderings in a predetermined fashion.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for generating images using an ultrasound imaging system, comprising the steps of: generating an acoustic data set; generating a perspective volumetric data set of a medium from an acoustic data set; generating at least one interpolated data set from the perspective volumetric data set; and, displaying a two dimensional rendering of the perspective volumetric data set and the at least one interpolated data set on a display in a manner to provide depth perception of the medium.
The present invention provides the ability to produce frozen and unfrozen two dimensional renderings of a medium in order to enhance depth perception and overall perception of the medium.
The present invention has numerous advantages, a few of which are delineated hereafter as merely examples. In particular, the present invention provides a fast and simple system and method to generate at least one second two dimensional rendering of a medium to enhance a user's perception of depth of the medium. Other advantages of the invention include the fact that it is simple in design, user friendly, robust and reliable in operation, efficient in operation, and easily implemented for mass commercial production.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention.
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Clark David W
Hager Richard A
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Imam Ali M.
Lateef Marvin M.
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