Abstract: An autostereoscopic display 101, which provides a depth perception by providing a viewer's left and right eyes (104a, 104b) with two slightly different perspectives of an image to be displayed, is provided for ultrasound guided interventions with a surgical instrument (103). The surgeon watches displayed ultrasound data (102), rendered for at least two views. The plane at which those views (L, R) intersect is adjusted to correspond exactly with the tracked three-dimensional position within a displayed scene of the surgical instrument (103), which position can be extracted from the three-dimensional ultrasound data by means of, for example, 3D object recognition. Thus, the point of reconstruction of the image presented to the viewer can be dynamically adjusted to correspond with the position of the surgical instrument on which the surgeon's eyes are presumed to be focused.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging method and ultrasound system are described for detecting abnormalities of the left ventricle of the heart. A sequence of images including the mitral valve is acquired and processed to identify the location of the mitral valve in each of the images in the sequence. A graphic is displayed with the images depicting the location of the mitral valve in the current image and in each of the preceding images of the sequence. Preferably the mitral valve location is identified by automatic detection of the mitral valve plane in each of the images. A desirable graphic color-codes each of the successively different mitral valve locations in the graphic. The image and graphic can be viewed in real time to discern the effects of conduction delay and infarction of the left ventricle.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. The appearance of the invasive device (30) in the three dimensional ultrasonic image is enhanced to be more readily observable by a clinician. The enhancement is produced by transmitting a greater ultrasonic beam density in a subvolumetric region including the invasive device (30) than in the surrounding portion of the volumetric region (120). The beam density may be uniformly high in the subvolumetric region and uniformly low in the surrounding region, or may taper from a relatively high beam density around the invasive device (30) to a minimum beam density at distances removed from the invasive device (30).

Abstract: Quantified measures of a volumetric object in the body can be made ultrasonically by acquiring concurrent biplane images of two different image planes (210, 214) of the object. Corresponding borders of the volumetric object are traced using automatic border detection. The border tracings are used in their planar spatial relationship to compute a graphical model (220) of the volumetric object. The volume of the graphical model (220) may be computed by the rule of disks, and a graphical or numerical display of the changing volume with time displayed. A user interface comprises both real time biplane images, the real time graphical model (220), and the quantified measures.

Abstract: A composite three dimensional ultrasound image containing position or image information of an invasive medical device (30) is provided. The three dimensional ultrasound image data can be combined with position or image information of the invasive medical device (30) either prior to or subsequent to volume rendering. the three dimensional ultrasound image data and the interventional system data are oriented and sealed to a common frame of reference and then combined. The volume rendering can be performed either on the ultrasound system (12), on the interventional system (20), or separately on both before combining.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. An interventional system (20) is used to operate the invasive medical device (30) and produces spatially-based information relating to the activity of the invasive medical device (30). The spatially-based information from the interventional system (20) is merged into the three dimensional ultrasonic image data to produce a live three dimensional image of the invasive medical device (30) or its activity. In one embodiment the locations where the activity of the invasive medical device (30) is performed is recorded and displayed in the three dimensional ultrasonic image. The three dimensional ultrasonic image may be shown as an anatomical volume rendered image or as a wire frame model (130) of the anatomy. In another embodiment an integrated three dimensional ultrasonic imaging and invasive device system is described.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. The invasive medical device (30) is shown in a detailed ultrasonic image and the balance of the volumetric region (120) in which the device is located is shown in a wide field of view. The detailed and wide fields of view may be displayed separately or overlapping in spatial alignment on an image display (18). The wide field of view may be shown in two or three dimensions. A quantified display may be shown together with the wide and detailed anatomical displays. The detailed view may also be shown in an enlarged or zoomed format.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) qualitative display (10,110,144) in an ultrasound system (30) include generating a first and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice (102,106,108) from a 3D data set of a 3D volume view of an ultrasound image. The first and second 2D slices (102,106,108) define a first and second plane of the 3D volume view along a first axis, wherein the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane. First and second border tracings (122,124) are generated around a portion of interest in the first and second 2D slices (102,106), respectively. A display (48) then displays (10,110) representations of the first and second border tracings within a single 3D view (10,128,130,146), wherein the 3D view provides an indication of alignment distortion of the first and second border tracings along the first axis. In one embodiment, at least one additional 2D slice defines an additional plane of the 3D volume view along a second axis, orthogonal to the first and second planes.

Abstract: A three dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operated to guide or observe the operation of an invasive medical device (30) in three dimensions. The appearance of the invasive device (30) in the three dimensional ultrasonic image is enhanced to be more readily observable by a clinician. The enhancement is produced by transmitting a greater ultrasonic beam density in a subvolumetric region including the invasive device (30) than in the surrounding portion of the volumetric region (120). The beam density may be uniformly high in the subvolumetric region and uniformly low in the surrounding region, or may taper from a relatively high beam density around the invasive device (30) to a minimum beam density at distances removed from the invasive device (30).

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In several exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the system and method controls the temperature of the transducer by changing operating system parameters based on feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer. The chosen mutable system parameters may be preset by the construction of the ultrasonic system, under the control of the ultrasonic system user, or a combination of the two. In one exemplary embodiment, a different mutable system parameter is altered based on which imaging mode the system is using. In two other exemplary embodiments, the one or more mutable system parameters are altered by an amount proportionate to the difference between the current temperature and a preferred operating temperature. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system switches to a lower power imaging mode when the temperature feedback indicates a threshold temperature has been reached.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention control the temperature of the transducer face by changing the imaging modes of the system. In a preferred embodiment, feedback from temperature sensing elements placed in the transducer is used to determine when to switch from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode. In another preferred embodiment, the system switches from a higher power imaging mode to a lower power imaging mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In yet another preferred embodiment, the system switches to a “mixed” imaging mode, where the system cycles rapidly between a higher power imaging mode and a lower power imaging mode, and the resulting data is combined to form a single image.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the heat of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. In the presently preferred embodiments, the operator selects one or more mutable system parameters of the ultrasound system which will be changed if either the temperature becomes too great, or at the operator's command, or both.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method are described in which a volumetric region of the body is imaged by biplane images. One biplane image has a fixed planar orientation to the transducer, and the plane of the other biplane image can be varied in relation to the fixed reference image. In a preferred embodiment one image can be rotated relative to the other, and can be tilted relative to the other. An image orientation icon is shown on the display screen together with the two biplane images depicting the relative orientation of the two planar images.