Abstract: Embodiments of an ultrasound system for outputting an ultrasound image through an ultrasound examination are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe, a sensor unit, a processor unit and an input unit. The ultrasound probe transmits and receives an ultrasound beam to and from the examination portion of a target object. The sensor unit is disposed in the ultrasound probe and detects a posture and/or a position of the ultrasound probe to form posture information and/or position information of the ultrasound probe. The processor unit moves an image indicator corresponding to the posture information and/or the position information. The image indicator includes an ultrasound beam direction marker that is indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe to the target object. The input unit is configured to control the processor unit.

Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments for an ultrasound system for performing segmentation of vessels. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to a target object including vessels, receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the target object and form ultrasound data corresponding to the target object; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data; and a processor configured to form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data, set a plurality of slices on the 3-dimensional ultrasound image and perform segmentation of the vessels based on a degree of registration between the respective vessels on the adjacent slices.

Abstract: Color values of a Doppler image or Doppler data is considered together with a guideline displayed in the Doppler image, and thus a moving direction of a target body may be easily determined. Furthermore, by displaying a marker indicating a moving direction of the target body in the Doppler image, movement of the target body may be easily and efficiently recognized by using the guideline and the marker.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound system and method for automatically activating an ultrasound probe based on motion of the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe for transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object; a sensing unit for sensing the ultrasound probe and generating sensing information corresponding to motion of the ultrasound probe; and an automatic activation unit for activating the ultrasound probe based on the sensing information.

Abstract: There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a change trend image. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits ultrasound signal to a target object and receives echo signal reflected from the target object to sequentially acquire a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor is connected to the ultrasound data acquisition unit. The processor sequentially extracts feature values from the plurality of ultrasound data, allocates colors corresponding to each feature value and forms a change trend image with the colors indicative of a change trend of the extracted feature values over time.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing an optimal ultrasound image for interventional treatment in a medical system are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a medical system comprises: a medical device that is inserted into a target object and configured to remove a lesion within the target object; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to output ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to form a plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data and perform an image processing upon each of the ultrasound images to detect a position of the medical device.

Abstract: A method of managing an ultrasound image, the method including storing a plurality of pieces of setting information to respectively match a plurality of observation operations for diagnosing an object, each of the plurality of pieces of setting information including at least one from among information about an observation plane that splits ultrasound volume data in a predetermined direction, information about a split method of splitting the ultrasound volume data, and information about a reference point; displaying a plurality of plane images for a current observation operation, wherein the plurality of plane images are obtained based on a piece of the setting information matching the current observation operation; storing an image selected from among the plurality of plane images according to an external input signal such that the selected image matches the current observation operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system and a method of forming an elastic image, which are capable of preventing the distortion of the elastic image. The persistence of the previous frame and the present frame is performed after moving the boundary pixels set up in the previous interest frame to the boundary pixels in the present interest frame. This is so that the distortion of the elastic image may be reduced and the signal to noise ratio may be increased.

Abstract: A method of displaying an ultrasound image, the method including: transmitting an ultrasonic signal to an object and obtaining vector Doppler data of a tissue included in the object based on a response signal that is reflected from the object; extracting a velocity magnitude of the tissue from the vector Doppler data of the tissue; and mapping the velocity magnitude of the tissue to a color scale and displaying a mapping result.

Abstract: An acoustic probe and an acoustic diagnostic system. The acoustic probe includes a housing; a transducer, which is arranged inside the housing, transmits an acoustic wave to a target object, and receives an acoustic echo signal from the target object; and a magnetic field generator, which is arranged inside the housing and generates a magnetic field to the target object.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a method of operating the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a probe for transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving a response signal from the object; a detector for detecting a sensor signal including at least one of location information representing a three-dimensional location of the probe and orientation information representing an orientation of the probe on the object; a storage unit for storing the sensor signal associated with the response signal; and an image processor for forming an ultrasound image based on the received response signal, forming an image indicator based on the sensor signal stored in the storage unit, and forming a display image including the ultrasound image and the image indicator corresponding to the ultrasound image.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing a 2-dimensional (D) computerized-tomography (CT) image corresponding to a 2-D ultrasound image through image registration between 3-D ultrasound and CT images are disclosed. An imaging system comprises a CT imaging unit, an ultrasound image forming unit, a storing unit, a processor and a display unit. The processor extracts the 2-D CT image from the 3-D ultrasound-CT registered image by performing a rigid-body transform upon the 3-D ultrasound image and calculating similarities between reference images and the 2-D ultrasound images, wherein the reference images are obtained through the rigid-body transform.

Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments for an ultrasound system for performing vessel labeling. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to a target object including vessels, receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the target object and form ultrasound data corresponding to the target object; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data; and a processor configured to form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on the volume data, perform vessel segmentation on the 3-dimensional ultrasound image to provide at least one segmented image including at least one segmented vessel, detect at least one vessel junction from the at least one segmented vessel and perform vessel labeling on the at least one segmented image based on the detected at least one vessel junction.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing a 2-dimensional (D) computerized-tomography (CT) image corresponding to a 2-D ultrasound image through image registration between 3-D ultrasound and CT images are disclosed. An imaging system comprises a CT imaging unit, an ultrasound image forming unit, a storing unit, a processor and a display unit. The processor extracts the 2-D CT image from the 3-D ultrasound-CT registered image by performing a rigid-body transform upon the 3-D ultrasound image and calculating similarities between reference images and the 2-D ultrasound images, wherein the reference images are obtained through the rigid-body transform.

Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments for non-rigid image registration between 3-dimensional ultrasound and CT images by using intensity and gradient information of vessels and diaphragm. An ultrasound image forming unit transmits/receives ultrasound signals to/from a target object to thereby output electrical receive signals, and forms 3-dimensional ultrasound images based on the electrical receive signals. A CT image forming unit forms 3-dimensional CT images of the target object. A registration unit determines first and second objective functions associated with diaphragm and vessel regions of the target object, respectively, based on intensity and gradient information upon portions corresponding to the diaphragm and vessel regions in each of the 3-dimensional ultrasound and CT images. The registration unit performs non-rigid image registration between the 3-dimensional ultrasound images and the 3-dimensional CT images based on the first and second objective functions.

Abstract: Embodiments of an ultrasound system for outputting an ultrasound image through an ultrasound examination are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe, a sensor unit, a processor unit and an input unit. The ultrasound probe transmits and receives an ultrasound beam to and from the examination portion of a target object. The sensor unit is disposed in the ultrasound probe and detects a posture and/or a position of the ultrasound probe to form posture information and/or position information of the ultrasound probe. The processor unit moves an image indicator corresponding to the posture information and/or the position information. The image indicator includes an ultrasound beam direction marker that is indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe to the target object. The input unit is configured to control the processor unit.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasound system with an opacity setting unit capable of setting opacity corresponding to rendering of volume data throughout depth. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises an opacity setting unit configured to receive input information for setting opacity corresponding to rendering of volume data throughout the depth.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing an optimal ultrasound image for interventional treatment in a medical system are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a medical system comprises: a medical device that is inserted into a target object and configured to remove a lesion within the target object; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to output ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to forma plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data and perform an image processing upon each of the ultrasound images to detect a position of the medical device.

Abstract: Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system, which are capable of intuitively displaying the abnormality of an object by determining a grade by comparing measurement data obtained by measuring ultrasound data relating to the object and displaying the measurement data in a different way based on the determined grade.

Abstract: Embodiments for registering a CT image onto ultrasound images are disclosed. At a preoperative stage, a plurality of first ultrasound images are formed during a respiratory cycle and a CT image is obtained at the maximum inspiration. The CT image is registered onto each of the ultrasound images to thereby form ultrasound-CT registered images. The ultrasound-CT registered images may be stored in the storage unit. Subsequently, at an intraoperative stage, a plurality of second ultrasound images may be sequentially formed in real time. Similarities may be measured between the first ultrasound images and the second ultrasound images, and the ultrasound-CT registered images, each corresponding to each of the first ultrasound images having highest similarity to the second ultrasound image may be retrieved. The retrieved ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image may be displayed at the same time.