Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound image rendering are provided. One system includes a user interface having a display configured to display ultrasound images for a volume data set and a content detection module configured to detect an object within the volume data set. The system also includes an image-processing module configured to receive ultrasound signals from a diagnostic probe and process the signals to generate the ultrasound images. The image-processing module is further configured to locally change an opacity function of the displayed ultrasound image based on the detected object to change an opacity of a subset of voxels in the volume data set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound image rendering are provided. One system includes a user interface having a display configured to display ultrasound images for a volume data set and a content detection module configured to detect an object within the volume data set. The system also includes an image-processing module configured to receive ultrasound signals from a diagnostic probe and process the signals to generate the ultrasound images. The image-processing module is further configured to locally change an opacity function of the displayed ultrasound image based on the detected object to change an opacity of a subset of voxels in the volume data set.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring first ultrasound data, the first ultrasound data comprising data of a first plane through a structure of interest. The ultrasound imaging system and method include tracking the motion of a landmark based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method acquiring second ultrasound data, the second ultrasound data including data of a second plane through the structure of interest, the second plane being distinct from the first plane, where the position of the second plane is adjusted to track the motion of the landmark. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes generating an image based on the second ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method include displaying a first sequence of images generated from first ultrasound data, where the first ultrasound data includes volumetric ultrasound data. The system and method include selecting an acquisition target from the first sequence of images and automatically configuring an acquisition parameter based on the selected acquisition target. The system and method include implementing the acquisition parameter to acquire second ultrasound data of the acquisition target. The system and method include displaying a second sequence of images generated from the second ultrasound data, wherein the second sequence of images is of a higher frame rate than the first sequence of images.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring first ultrasound data, the first ultrasound data comprising data of a first plane through a structure of interest. The ultrasound imaging system and method include tracking the motion of a landmark based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method acquiring second ultrasound data, the second ultrasound data including data of a second plane through the structure of interest, the second plane being distinct from the first plane, where the position of the second plane is adjusted to track the motion of the landmark. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes generating an image based on the second ultrasound data.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method include generating an image from ultrasound data of an anatomical structure and fitting a model to the image, the model including a standard view of the anatomical structure. The system and method include calculating a quality-of-fit of the image to the model. The system and method include displaying an indicator based on the quality-of-fit of the image to the model.

Abstract: A method for performing a volume rendering of an image uses a computer having a processor, memory, and a display. The method includes globally segmenting image data that represents an image to thereby locate boundaries in the image, determining regional opacity functions using the image data in a vicinity of the boundaries, and volume rendering the image data utilizing the regional opacity functions to display an image. The method provides a presentation of improved images of structures. These improved images are obtained using a regional optimization of the opacity function such that the perceived object boundary coincides more closely with a segmented boundary.

Abstract: A system and method for storing ultrasound information are provided. The method includes storing raw medical data of a scanned object in a reference data file, storing a set of image generating parameters into a parameter-constrained file that is separate from the reference data file, linking the set of image generating parameters stored in the parameter-constrained file to the reference data file, and generating an image by applying the set of image generating parameters to the reference data file.

Abstract: A method and system for multiple view volume rendering are provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of view directions relative to an image of an object and automatically volume rendering a volumetric data set based on the plurality of view directions. The method further includes generating an image for each view direction using the rendered data.

Abstract: An anatomic structure is detected based on a medical diagnostic imaging data set. The anatomic structure comprises at least two different types of tissue. At least one anatomic landmark is identified within the data set, the data set is overlaid with a contour template, and a search region of the data set surrounding the contour template is scanned to identify transition points associated with a predefined characteristic of the anatomic structure.

Abstract: A computerized method for tracking of a 3D structure in a 3D image including a plurality of sequential image frames, one of which is a current image frame, includes representing the 3D structure being tracked with a parametric model with parameters for local shape deformations. A predicted state vector is created for the parametric model using a kinematic model. The parametric model is deformed using the predicted state vector, and a plurality of actual points for the 3D structure is determined using a current frame of the 3D image, and displacement values and a measurement vectors are determined using differences between the plurality of actual points and the plurality of predicted points. The displacement values and the measurement vectors are filtered to generate an updated state vector and an updated covariance matrix, and an updated parametric model is generated for the current image frame using the updated state vector.

Abstract: A method and system for slice alignment in multiple image views are provided. The method includes determining an adjustment of one of a plurality of image views to align an imaged object with at least one alignment marker. The method further includes updating the plurality of image views based on the adjustment. The updating includes at least one of rotating and translating the image views with respect to an intersection of the at least one alignment marker with another alignment marker.

Abstract: A method and system for multiple view volume rendering are provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of view directions relative to an image of an object and automatically volume rendering a volumetric data set based on the plurality of view directions. The method further includes generating an image for each view direction using the rendered data.

Abstract: A method for performing a volume rendering of an image uses a computer having a processor, memory, and a display. The method includes globally segmenting image data that represents an image to thereby locate boundaries in the image, determining regional opacity functions using the image data in a vicinity of the boundaries, and volume rendering the image data utilizing the regional opacity functions to display an image. The method provides a presentation of improved images of structures. These improved images are obtained using a regional optimization of the opacity function such that the perceived object boundary coincides more closely with a segmented boundary.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving a segmentation of a 3D image and/or validating a segmentation of a 3D image includes rendering an acquired 3D image and a segmentation of the acquired 3D image on a segmentation display that has at least one spatially fixed slice and an interactive slice with a reference mark corresponding to the cursor location in the spatially fixed slice or slices on the display. The method further includes utilizing an interactive user input to update image data of the interactive slice and the reference mark to coincide with the cursor in the spatially fixed slice or slices. The method further includes using the cursor and the reference mark to verify that cursor locations on the boundaries of the segmentation of the acquired 3D image correspond to object boundaries in the image data of the interactive slice.