Automated sweep and export of 2d ultrasound images of 3d volumes

Abstract

An ultrasound system which is capable of biplane imaging is able to display, store and export independent image frames of only the reference image or only the variable orientation image, or the standard display of both images. The system is also able to sweep through a range of image plane orientations and automatically acquire an image in each orientation over the range of plane orientations. The system is preferably operable in the biplane tilt mode, the biplane rotate mode, or the biplane elevation tilt mode.

1 . An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for automated acquisition of a sequence of biplane images of progressively different image plane orientations comprising:
 an ultrasound probe including a two dimensional matrix array transducer;   a controller which controls the probe to acquire biplane images of different image orientations, wherein each of the biplane images include a first image in a stationary plane and a second image in a variable orientation image plane;   a user control operable by a user to command the controller to acquire the biplane images, store the second images as a sequence of images of progressively different image orientations over a range of orientation variation and selectively discard the first images; and   a display for display of biplane images.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the user control is further operable by the user for setting the range of orientation variation over which the biplane images are to be acquired. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 2 , further comprising a source of trigger signals, coupled to the controller, for gated acquisition of the sequence of images of progressively different image orientations. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising an image memory for storing the sequence of images of progressively different image orientations. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the progressively different image orientations are different tilt angle orientations, different rotation angle orientations, or different elevation tilt angle orientations. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the user control is further operable by the user for setting a difference in orientation between the different image orientations. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary plane of the first image is at a fixed orientation in relation to the matrix array transducer and the variable orientation image plane of the second image is variable in relation to stationary plane of the first image by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system of  claim 7 , further comprising a user control operable by a user to select a biplane mode as one of:
 the second image having a tilted orientation in relation to the first image and intersecting the stationary plane of the first image;   the second image having a rotated orientation in relation to the first image; or   the second image being tilted in elevation and not intersecting the first image.   
     
     
         9 . A method for operating an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system to acquire biplane images comprising:
 selecting a biplane imaging mode;   imaging a region of interest in a body in the selected biplane imaging mode;   initiating a swept acquisition of biplane images of progressively different image orientations, wherein each of the biplane images include a first image in a stationary plane and a second image in a variable orientation image plane;   storing an image sequence of the second images of the biplane images of progressively different image orientations; and   selectively discarding the first images of the biplane images.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising selecting a range of progressively different image acquisitions over which the swept acquisition is to be initiated. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting an incremental difference in orientation between the different image orientations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein initiating further comprises initiating a swept acquisition of biplane images of progressively different image plane tilt. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein initiating further comprises initiating a swept acquisition of biplane images of progressively different image plane rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising exporting the stored image sequence to a different image display device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 acquiring a trigger signal; and   wherein initiating further comprises initiating a gated, swept acquisition of the biplane images of progressively different image orientations.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a controller configured to control an ultrasound probe to acquire biplane images of different image orientations, wherein each of the biplane images include a first image in a stationary plane and a second image in a variable orientation image plane; and   a user control configured to receive a user to command that causes the controller to acquire the biplane images, store the second images as a sequence of images, and selectively discard the first images.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the different image orientations of the biplane images are at progressively different image orientations over a range of orientation variation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the rate of orientation variation or an incremental difference in orientation between the progressively different image orientations are selected via the user control. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a source of trigger signals, wherein the trigger signals cause the acquisition of the biplane images to be gated with respect to the trigger signals. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the different image orientations are different with respect to at least one of tilt angle orientation, rotation angle, or elevation tilt angle.