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 information indicative of a change in elasticity information of a target object over time in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits ultrasound beams to a target object and receives ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object to thereby provide plural sets of ultrasound frame data. An image forming unit forms ultrasound images by using the plural sets of ultrasound frame data. An information forming unit defines a region of interest on each of the ultrasound images and compares images within the regions of interest between the neighboring ultrasound images to form elasticity information. The information forming unit forms information indicative of a change in the elasticity information over time.

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: 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: 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 is disclosed a system and method for providing a 2-dimensional CT image corresponding to a 2-dimensional ultrasound image by performing an image registration between a 3-dimensional ultrasound image and a 3-dimensional CT image.

Abstract: There is disclosed an embodiment for performing a calibration of a sensor by using an image registration between a three-dimensional ultrasound image and computerized tomography (CT) image. An ultrasound image forming unit includes an ultrasound probe and forms a three-dimensional ultrasound image of a target object. A sensor is coupled to the ultrasound probe. A memory stores a three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) image of the target object and position information on a position between the three-dimensional ultrasound image and the sensor. A processor performs image registration between the three-dimensional CT image and the three-dimensional ultrasound image to form a first transformation function for transforming a position of the sensor to a corresponding position on the three-dimensional CT image and performs calibration of the sensor by applying the position information to the first transformation function.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic system and method. The ultrasound diagnostic system may receive, from a target object, a response signal corresponding to an ultrasound signal transmitted to the target object, may generate an ultrasound image and at least one organ image by using ultrasound data generated based on the received response signal, and may display the generated ultrasound image and the generated at least one organ image.

Abstract: A biopsy device and a biopsy device integrated-type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus are disclosed. The biopsy device includes a needle collecting a sample tissue from a diagnosis target, a needle guide guiding a movement path of the needle, and a biopsy kit with the needle guide movably disposed therein in a direction in which the needle is inserted into the diagnosis target. The biopsy device compressively supports a local point of the diagnosis target into which the needle will be inserted for biopsy, so that the shape of the diagnosis target is prevented from being changed upon insertion of the needle, thereby enhancing precision of biopsy diagnosis results while reducing examinee discomfort and inconvenience.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is disclosed. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a housing exposing one side of a diagnosis target while supporting the diagnosis target so as to maintain a shape of the diagnosis target, an oblique part obliquely formed on the housing to support the diagnosis target, and a probe unit disposed inside the housing to examine the diagnosis target. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus ensures efficient diagnosis of the overall diagnosis target without excessive compression of the diagnosis target causing examinee discomfort, and can support the diagnosis target so as to maintain the shape of the diagnosis target, thereby ensuring the provision of a constant quality of ultrasonic images upon repetitious diagnosis of the diagnosis target while improving reproducibility of diagnosis results.

Abstract: A separable biopsy device integrated-type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is disclosed. The separable biopsy device integrated-type ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus exposing one side of a diagnosis target and examining the diagnosis target at the other side of the diagnosis target, and a biopsy device located at the exposed side of the diagnosis target and detachably coupled to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus can perform ultrasound diagnosis and biopsy together, thereby providing the convenience of allowing the ultrasound diagnosis and the biopsy to be performed with a single apparatus, and can perform a biopsy based on ultrasound images obtained using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without changing a position of a diagnosis target, enabling precise determination as to a position to be biopsied, that is, a target position into which the needle of the biopsy device will be inserted.

Abstract: Embodiments of providing image indicators together with an ultrasound image are disclosed. A mapping table including a plurality of objects each associated with examination locations, each of the examination locations being associated with one or more image indicators. The image indicators include a target organ marker indicative of each object, a body axis marker indicative of an anatomical orientation of each object, and an ultrasound beam direction marker indicative of a transmission direction of the ultrasound beam. A processing unit accesses the storage unit to provide the image indicators corresponding to a target object and examination location selected in response to selection instructions inputted by a user. The processing unit further 3-dimensionally rotates the image indicators based on position information of an ultrasound probe.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing system, which includes: an image forming unit for forming a number of color flow images based on input image signals; a reference image selecting unit for selecting a reference image for gain control among the color flow images; a gain control value calculating unit for calculating a gain control value based on the reference image; and a gain control unit for controlling gains for the color flow images based on the gain control value.

Abstract: An embodiment of a hand-held ultrasound system is disclosed. The hand-held ultrasound system comprises an ultrasound probe configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output receive signals. A body is sized to be held by a single hand of a user and has processing elements configured to form ultrasound images based on the receive signals and provide a preset touch screen menu. A touch screen, which is mounted on the body, includes a display and a touch panel with a touch response surface. The touch screen displays the ultrasound images and the preset touch screen menu for allowing the user to input user instructions. The preset touch screen menu is displayed on a display region of the display corresponding to proximity to a location of the touch panel touched by a finger of the user when the body is held by the single hand of the user.

Abstract: Embodiments for adaptively forming color Doppler images in an ultrasound diagnostic system are disclosed. A method of forming a color Doppler image in an ultrasound diagnostic system comprises: scanning a first set of scan lines set at a full scan region to detect at least one scan line that passes a moving object in the full scan region among the first set of scan lines; setting a second set of scan lines based on the detected scan lines; and scanning the second set of scan lines to form a first color Doppler image.

Abstract: An ultrasound system capable of displaying and manipulating an ultrasound image and an exterior image, and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The system includes an ultrasound diagnosis unit including a probe which sends an ultrasound signal to a target and receives a reflected ultrasound signal from the target, an exterior image storage which stores exterior image data, an image processor which forms an ultrasound image and an exterior image, a user input unit operated to manipulate and display the reflected ultrasound signal and the exterior image data, a central processor which controls the ultrasound diagnosis unit and the exterior image storage to allow the image processor to manipulate and form the ultrasound and exterior images, and a display unit which displays the ultrasound and exterior images, a manipulated state of the ultrasound and exterior images, and an operating state of the central processor.

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.

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: There is disclosed an embodiment for extracting anatomical features from a 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image for image registration. A system extracts anatomical features from a 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image for image registration. An image forming unit forms a 3-dimensional ultrasound liver image based on ultrasound signals reflected from the liver. A diaphragm extracting unit extracts a diaphragm region from the 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image. A vessel extracting unit extracts vessel regions from the 3-dimensional ultrasound liver image. A diaphragm refining unit refines the extracted diaphragm region with the extracted vessel regions to remove clutters from the diaphragm region. A registration unit extracts sample points from the diaphragm region with the clutters removed and the vessel regions for image registration.

Abstract: Embodiments for detecting extravasation in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes a Tx/Rx unit to transmit an ultrasound beam to a target object and receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object to thereby output receive signals. The receive signals include first receive signals obtained before injecting a fluid into the target object and second receive signals obtained after injecting the fluid into the target object. The ultrasound system further includes a processing unit to form a first ultrasound image based on the first receive signals and a second ultrasound image based on the second receive signal. The processing unit further compares the first ultrasound image and the second ultrasound image for detecting extravasation at the target object.