Abstract: A fusion imaging system co-registers and fuses real time ultrasound images with reference images such as those produced by MRI or CT imaging. In an illustrated implementation, previously acquired CT or MRI or ultrasound images are loaded into the system. An ultrasound system is operated in conjunction with a tracking system so that the ultrasound probe and images can be spatially tracked. A computerized image processor registers the probe position with a reference image of the anatomy being scanned by the probe and determines whether the probe appears to be inside the skin line of the subject. If that is the case it is due to probe compression of the subject, and the reference image is modified to locate the skin line in the reference image in front of the ultrasound probe. The modified reference images can then be readily co-registered and fused with the ultrasound images produced by the probe.

Abstract: A fusion imaging system co-registers and fuses real time ultrasound images with reference images such as those produced by MRI or CT imaging. In an illustrated implementation, previously acquired CT or MRI or ultrasound images are loaded into the system. An ultrasound system is operated in conjunction with a tracking system so that the ultrasound probe and images can be spatially tracked. A computerized image processor registers the probe position with a reference image of the anatomy being scanned by the probe and determines whether the probe appears to be inside the skin line of the subject. If that is the case it is due to probe compression of the subject, and the reference image is modified to locate the skin line in the reference image in front of the ultrasound probe. The modified reference images can then be readily co-registered and fused with the ultrasound images produced by the probe.

Abstract: A fusion imaging system co-registers and fuses real time ultrasound images with reference images such as those produced by MRI or CT imaging. In an illustrated implementation, previously acquired CT or MRI or ultrasound images are loaded into the system. An ultrasound system is operated in conjunction with a tracking system so that the ultrasound probe and images can be spatially tracked. A computerized image processor registers the probe position with a reference image of the anatomy being scanned by the probe and determines whether the probe appears to be inside the skin line of the subject. If that is the case it is due to probe compression of the subject, and the reference image is modified to locate the skin line in the reference image in front of the ultrasound probe. The modified reference images can then be readily co-registered and fused with the ultrasound images produced by the probe.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging assembly is disclosed, comprising an image processing unit (26) for receiving and for evaluating at least one set of ultrasound data resulting from an ultrasound scan of a volume of interest (31) and for providing corresponding image data on the basis of the ultrasound data. The assembly comprises a display unit (18) for displaying an ultrasound image (30) on the basis of the image data, and an evaluation unit (28) adapted to detect whether a shadowed area (32) is present within the volume of interest (31) on the basis of the ultrasound data, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to determine ultrasound image data of a two-dimensional slice of the shadowed area and wherein the display unit is adapted to display a graphical representation of a corresponding sectional view of the shadowed area within the ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus (20) is disclosed, comprising a data interface (30) configured to receive a plurality of different ultrasound data sets (26, 28) resulting from an ultrasound scan of an object (18) in different viewing directions. The ultrasound imaging apparatus further comprises a segmentation unit (32) for segmenting anatomical structures of the object in the different ultrasound data sets and for providing segmentation data of the anatomical structures, and a reference determining unit (34) for determining a spatial reference (48, 50, 52, 54) for the different ultrasound data sets on the basis of the segmentation data. A confidence determining unit (40) is included for determining confidence values (56) for different regions of the received ultrasound data on the basis of the spatial reference.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (33) in a volume (32). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound image acquisition probe (14) for acquiring three-dimensional ultrasound images and providing three-dimensional ultrasound image data, comprising a tracking device (25, 27) for tracking a position of the ultrasound image acquisition probe (14) and providing a viewpoint position (128, 130) of the three-dimensional ultrasound images. By this, an improved initialization and improved co-registration and co-segmentation is enabled by providing a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images and their respective viewpoint positions (128, 130), and to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (33) simultaneously out of the plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images and taking into account the viewpoint positions (128, 130).

Abstract: A fusion imaging system co-registers and fuses real time ultrasound images with reference images such as those produced by MRI or CT imaging. In an illustrated implementation, previously acquired CT or MRI or ultrasound images are loaded into the system. An ultrasound system is operated in conjunction with a tracking system so that the ultrasound probe and images can be spatially tracked. A computerized image processor registers the probe position with a reference image of the anatomy being scanned by the probe and determines whether the probe appears to be inside the skin line of the subject. If that is the case it is due to probe compression of the subject, and the reference image is modified to locate the skin line in the reference image in front of the ultrasound probe. The modified reference images can then be readily co-registered and fused with the ultrasound images produced by the probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (97) in a volume (40). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an image processor (36) configured to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (97) simultaneously out of three-dimensional ultrasound mage data (62) and contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ultrasound image data (60). In particular, this may be done by minimizing an energy term taking into account both the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data. By this, the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data may even be registered during segmentation. Hence, this invention allows a more precise quantification of one organ in two different modalities as well as the registration of two images for simultaneous visualization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (97) in a volume (40). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an image processor (36) configured to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (97) simultaneously out of three-dimensional ultrasound mage data (62) and contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ultrasound image data (60). In particular, this may be done by minimizing an energy term taking into account both the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data. By this, the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data may even be registered during segmentation. Hence, this invention allows a more precise quantification of one organ in two different modalities as well as the registration of two images for simultaneous visualization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (97) in a volume (40). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an image processor (36) configured to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (97) simultaneously out of three-dimensional ultrasound mage data (62) and contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ultrasound image data (60). In particular, this may be done by minimizing an energy tem taking into account both the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data. By this, the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data may even be registered during segmentation. Hence, this invention allows a more precise quantification of one organ in two different modalities as well as the registration of two images for simultaneous visualization.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus (20) is disclosed, comprising a data interface (30) configured to receive a plurality of different ultrasound data sets (26, 28) resulting from an ultrasound scan of an object (18) in different viewing directions. The ultrasound imaging apparatus further comprises a segmentation unit (32) for segmenting anatomical structures of the object in the different ultrasound data sets and for providing segmentation data of the anatomical structures, and a reference determining unit (34) for determining a spatial reference (48, 50, 52, 54) for the different ultrasound data sets on the basis of the segmentation data. A confidence determining unit (40) is included for determining confidence values (56) for different regions of the received ultrasound data on the basis of the spatial reference.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging assembly is disclosed, comprising an image processing unit (26) for receiving and for evaluating at least one set of ultrasound data resulting from an ultrasound scan of a volume of interest (31) and for providing corresponding image data on the basis of the ultrasound data. The assembly comprises a display unit (18) for displaying an ultrasound image (30) on the basis of the image data, and an evaluation unit (28) adapted to detect whether a shadowed area (32) is present within the volume of interest (31) on the basis of the ultrasound data, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to determine ultrasound image data of a two-dimensional slice of the shadowed area and wherein the display unit is adapted to display a graphical representation of a corresponding sectional view of the shadowed area within the ultrasound image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (33) in a volume (32). The ultra-sound imaging system comprises an ultrasound image acquisition probe (14) for acquiring three-dimensional ultrasound images and providing three-dimensional ultrasound image data, comprising a tracking device (25, 27) for tracking a position of the ultrasound image acquisition probe (14) and providing a viewpoint position (128, 130) of the three-dimensional ultrasound images. By this, an improved initialization and improved co-registration and co-segmentation is enabled by providing a plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images and their respective viewpoint positions (128, 130), and to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (33) simultaneously out of the plurality of three-dimensional ultrasound images and taking into account the viewpoint positions (128, 130).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system (10) for inspecting an object (97) in a volume (40). The ultrasound imaging system comprises an image processor (36) configured to conduct a segmentation (80) of the object (97) simultaneously out of three-dimensional ultrasound mage data (62) and contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ultrasound image data (60). In particular, this may be done by minimizing an energy tem taking into account both the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data. By this, the normal three-dimensional ultrasound image data and the contrast-enhanced three-dimensional image data may even be registered during segmentation. Hence, this invention allows a more precise quantification of one organ in two different modalities as well as the registration of two images for simultaneous visualization.