Abstract: An image-based approach of calibrating an ultrasound-probe is described, wherein at least two ultrasound-images which cross each other are acquired with a tracked ultrasound probe, and wherein the intersection areas of these images, which have been calculated on the basis of the tracked spatial position of the ultrasound probe are checked for similar image content. The grade of similarity gives an indication as to how well the ultrasound probe is calibrated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for characterizing, for example identifying at least one object depicted in a raster image (1) or determining the speed of sound of the object, the raster image (1) having pixel rows and pixel columns. In order to efficiently and accurately characterize the object, the invention provides that several pixel columns (Cn) are selected and each of the selected pixel columns (Cn) is converted into a line profile (L), the amplitude of the line profile (L) representing the value (V) of image information of selected pixels of the respective selected pixel column (Cn), wherein the method comprises determining characteristics of the line profiles (L) and using the characteristics to characterize the at least one object depicted in the raster image (1).

Abstract: The disclosed invention encompasses an image-based approach of calibrating an ultrasound-probe, wherein at least two ultrasound-images which cross each other are acquired with a tracked ultrasound probe, and wherein the intersection areas of these images, which have been calculated on the basis of the tracked spatial position of the ultrasound probe are checked for similar image content. The grade of similarity gives an indication as to how well the ultrasound probe is calibrated.