Cutting volumetric images of region of interest from three-dimensional ultrasound image

Abstract

A system includes a processor and a display. The processor is configured to (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of an organ of a patient, (ii) present at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice selected in the first 3D US image, (iii) receiving a first 2D profile and a second 2D profile of a region of interest (ROI) in the volume comprising the organ selected in the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively, and (iv) generating a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first 2D profile and the second 2D profile. The display is configured to present the second 3D US image to a user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices, and in particular to methods and systems for improving three-dimensional (3D) visualization of a region of interest (ROI) in a patient's heart using an intracardiac ultrasound catheter. Background Art

[0002] Various techniques have been developed for producing volumetric ultrasound (US) images in organs, such as in the heart, using US catheters. In some cases, US images may not provide the user with sufficient information about a region of interest (ROI) in the patient's heart.

[0003] The present disclosure will be more fully understood through the following detailed description of examples of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a catheter-based ultrasound (US) imaging and tissue ablation system according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0005] Figure 2A is a schematic illustration of a first three-dimensional (3D) US image of cardiac tissue and a two-dimensional (2D) slice selected in the first 3D US image according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0006] Figure 2B The above-mentioned information presented to the user according to the example of the present disclosure Figure 2A Schematic illustration of selected 2D slices;

[0007] Figure 3A is a schematic illustration of a contour generated in each of the selected 2D slices and indicating a region of interest (ROI) in cardiac tissue according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0008] Figure 3B is a schematic illustration of a second 3D US image according to an example of the present disclosure, the second 3D US image being a sub-volume of the first 3D US image and comprising Figure 3A the ROI derived from the contours selected in the 2D slices; and

[0009] Figure 4 Schematically illustrates a flow chart of a method for cropping a volume image of a region of interest (ROI) in the heart from the 3D US image according to an example of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Overview

[0011] Catheters with imaging capabilities, such as ultrasound (US) imaging, are being used to image tissue and chambers within a patient's organ, such as in the patient's heart. For example, catheter-based four-dimensional (4D) intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a unique imaging modality that can provide high-resolution, real-time visualization of cardiac structures within the heart. The term 4D refers to the acquisition of three-dimensional images over time, which is achieved by continuously monitoring the position of the catheter. Such technology provides users with early detection of anatomical problems within the heart and complications occurring during and after a treatment procedure performed in the heart or another organ in question.

[0012] 4D visualization usually produces multiple pyramidal 3D images, but in some cases, the US images cannot provide the user with sufficient and clean information about the ROI in the patient's heart. More specifically, the pyramidal 3D images usually contain a volume that is larger than the volume of interest and may therefore occlude and / or blur the anatomical features of interest. In addition, due to the 3D nature of the cardiac anatomy, it is difficult to crop one or more 3D images from the 4D visualization that contain only useful and desired information.

[0013] Examples of the present disclosure described below provide techniques for cropping a volume of interest from a 4D ICE visualization of a heart.

[0014] In some examples, a catheter-based ultrasound imaging and tissue ablation system includes a catheter, a processor, and a display device, which for brevity is also referred to herein as a display.

[0015] In some examples, the catheter includes an ultrasound catheter (e.g., a 4D ICE catheter) having a distal tip having an ultrasound transducer configured to apply US waves to tissue (e.g., wall) of the heart. The distal tip is configured to generate one or more US signals indicating the shape and morphology of the tissue in question based on the US waves returned (e.g., reflected) from the tissue in question.

[0016] In some examples, the catheter includes a position sensor coupled to the distal tip and configured to generate a position signal indicative of the position and orientation of the distal tip in the patient's heart. Figure 1 Described in detail in.

[0017] In some examples, the processor is configured to receive (e.g., from a US catheter) a first 3D US image of a volume of a patient's heart (or any other organ) and present to a user at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice selected in the first 3D US image.

[0018] In some examples, the processor is configured to receive or generate a first 2D contour and a second 2D contour of a region of interest (ROI) in the volume including the organ, the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour being selected in the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively. The selected contour may be selected manually, for example, by a physician or any other user of the system, or automatically by the processor. For example, in a 2D slice, a user may select a rectangle surrounding the region of interest, and the processor is configured to apply an automatic contour algorithm configured to identify an appropriate contour based on the position of the rectangle selected by the user.

[0019] In some examples, based on the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour, the processor is configured to generate a second 3D US image of the ROI, the second 3D US image being a sub-volume of the first 3D US image. In other words, based on the 2D contour, the processor is configured to crop a second 3D US image that primarily contains the volume of interest within the heart from the first 3D US image received from the US catheter.

[0020] In some examples, the display is configured to present a second 3D US image having at least the volume of interest to the user.

[0021] The disclosed techniques improve the 3D visualization of tissue and ROIs within an organ of a patient, and thereby improve the quality of medical procedures performed on the organ in question using the 3D visualization.

[0022] System Description

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a catheter-based ultrasound imaging and tissue ablation system 10 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0024] In some examples, system 10 may include multiple catheters that are inserted percutaneously through the patient's vascular system by physician 24 into chambers or vascular structures of heart 12. Typically, a delivery sheath catheter is inserted into the chamber in question near a desired location in heart 12. One or more catheters may then be inserted into the delivery sheath catheter in order to reach the desired location within heart 12. The multiple catheters may include catheters dedicated to sensing intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals, catheters dedicated to ablation, catheters suitable for performing both sensing and ablation, and catheters configured to perform imaging of tissue of heart 12 (e.g., tissue 33).

[0025] Referring now to illustration 17, a cross-sectional view of the catheter 14 and the heart 12 is shown. In some examples, the physician 24 may place the distal tip 28 of the catheter 14 in close proximity to or contact with the heart wall to perform diagnosis (e.g., imaging and / or sensing) and / or treatment (e.g., tissue ablation) at a target (e.g., ablation) site in the heart 12. Additionally or alternatively, for ablation, the physician 24 would similarly place the distal end of the ablation catheter in contact with the target site for ablating the tissue to be ablated. In the present example shown in illustration 17, the distal tip 28 is positioned in front of the tissue 33 of the heart 12.

[0026] Referring now to illustration 45, distal tip 28 is shown. In some examples, distal tip 28 comprises a four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound (US) catheter, wherein distal tip 28 has ultrasound transducers 53 arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array 42 and configured to apply US waves to tissue 33 (and / or any other region of heart 12).

[0027] In the present example, the 2D array 42 includes approximately 32×64 US transducers 53 (or any other suitable number of US transducers 53 arranged in any suitable structure) and is configured to generate US-based images of tissue 33 located at least at the inner wall of the heart 12.

[0028] In some examples, distal tip 28 includes a position sensor 44 embedded in or near distal tip 28 for tracking the position and orientation of distal tip 28 in the coordinate system of system 10. More specifically, position sensor 44 is configured to output a position signal indicating the position and orientation of 2D array 42 within heart 12. Based on the position signal, processor 77 of system 10 is configured to display the position and orientation of distal tip 28 on an anatomical map 20 of heart 12, as will be described in more detail below. Optionally and preferably, position sensor 44 includes a magnetic-based position sensor including three magnetic coils for sensing three-dimensional (3D) position and orientation. The position tracking component of system 10 is described in more detail below.

[0029] In some examples, distal tip 28 may also be used to perform the aforementioned diagnostics and / or therapies, such as electrical sensing and / or ablation of tissue 33 in heart 12 using, for example, tip electrode 46. In the present example, tip electrode 46 may include a sensing electrode or an ablation electrode.

[0030] In other examples, the system 10 may include another catheter (not shown) inserted into the heart 12, which may have one and preferably multiple electrodes, which are optionally distributed along the distal end of the corresponding catheter. The electrodes are configured to sense IEGM signals and / or electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in the tissue 33 of the heart 12.

[0031] Now return to see Figure 1 In some examples, the magnetic-based position sensor 44 may operate with a positioning pad 25 that includes multiple (e.g., three) magnetic coils 32 configured to generate multiple (e.g., three) magnetic fields in a predetermined workspace. The real-time position of the distal tip 28 of the catheter 14 may be tracked based on the magnetic field generated using the positioning pad 25 and sensed by the magnetic-based position sensor 44. Details of magnetic-based position sensing technology are described, for example, in U.S. Patents 5,539,199, 5,443,489, 5,558,091, 6,172,499, 6,239,724, 6,332,089, 6,484,118, 6,618,612, 6,690,963, 6,788,967, and 6,892,091.

[0032] In some examples, the system 10 includes one or more electrode patches 38 that are positioned in contact with the skin of the patient 23 to establish a position reference for impedance-based tracking of the positioning pad 25 and electrodes (not shown). For impedance-based tracking, current is directed to the electrode 46 and / or other electrodes (not shown) of the catheter 14 and sensed at the electrode skin patch 38 so that the position of each electrode (e.g., electrode 46) can be triangulated via the electrode patch 38. This technology is also referred to herein as advanced current localization (ACL), and details of impedance-based position tracking technology are described in U.S. Patents 7,536,218, 7,756,576, 7,848,787, 7,869,865, and 8,456,182.

[0033] In some examples, magnetic-based position sensing and ACL can be used simultaneously, for example to improve position sensing of one or more electrodes coupled to the shaft of a rigid catheter or to a flexible arm or spline at the distal tip of another catheter, such as a basket catheter 14 and the ACL available from Biosense Webster, Inc., 31A Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618. or catheter.

[0034] In some examples, recorder 11 displays electrograms 21 captured using surface ECG electrodes 18 and intracardiac electrograms (IEGMs) captured, for example, using electrodes 46 of catheter 14. Recorder 11 may include pacing capabilities for pacing cardiac rhythms and / or may be electrically connected to a separate pacemaker.

[0035] In some examples, the system 10 may include an ablation energy generator 50 adapted to conduct ablation energy to one or more of the electrodes at the distal tip of a catheter configured for ablation. The energy generated by the ablation energy generator 50 may include, but is not limited to, a pulse train of radio frequency (RF) energy or pulsed field ablation (PFA) energy (including monopolar or bipolar high voltage DC pulses that can be used to achieve irreversible electroporation (IRE)), or a combination thereof. As another example, the electrode 46 may include an ablation electrode positioned at the distal tip 28 and configured to apply a pulse train of RF energy and / or PFA energy to tissue of the wall of the heart 12.

[0036] In some examples, patient interface unit (PIU) 30 is an interface configured to establish electrical communication between catheters, electrophysiology equipment, a power source, and a workstation 55 for controlling operation of system 10 .

[0037] The electrophysiology equipment of system 10 may include, for example, multiple catheters, positioning pads 25, surface ECG electrodes 18, electrode patches 38, ablation energy generator 50, and recorder 11. Optionally and preferably, PIU 30 additionally includes processing capabilities for enabling real-time calculation of the position of the catheters and for performing ECG calculations.

[0038] In one example, one or more electrodes (e.g., electrode 46) are configured to receive current from PIU 30 and measure impedance between at least one of the electrodes (e.g., electrode 46) and (i) a corresponding electrode patch 38 or (ii) a corresponding surface ECG electrode 18.

[0039] In some examples, the workstation 55 includes a storage device, a processor 77 having appropriate random access memory or storage having appropriate operating software stored therein, an interface 56 configured to exchange data signals (e.g., between the processor 77 and another entity of the system 10), and user interface capabilities. In one example, the processor 77 is configured to generate signals indicative of electrophysiological (EP) properties of the heart 12. For example, (i) a first signal indicative of an electrical potential measured on a tissue in question having one or more electrodes, such as the electrodes 46 or sensing electrodes of a sensing catheter (not shown) placed in contact therewith, and (ii) a second signal indicative of the impedance measured above. The workstation 55 can provide multiple functions, optionally including: (1) three-dimensional (3D) modeling of the endocardial anatomy and rendering the model or anatomical map 20 for display on the display device 27 (also referred to herein as a display for brevity); (2) displaying an activation sequence (or other data) compiled from recorded electrograms 21 on the display device 27 as representative visual markers or images superimposed on the rendered anatomical map 20; (3) displaying the real-time position and orientation of multiple catheters within the heart chamber; and (4) displaying an anatomical image (e.g., an ultrasound image) of a site of interest (such as where ablation energy has been applied or is intended to be applied) on the display device 27.

[0040] Referring now back to illustration 45, in some examples, processor 77 is configured to control distal tip 28 of catheter 14 to: (i) apply ultrasound (US) waves to tissue 33, and (ii) generate a position signal indicative of (a) US waves returning from tissue 33, and (b) a position signal indicative of the position and orientation of distal tip 28 in a coordinate system of system 10.

[0041] A commercial product embodying elements of system 10 may be CARTO TM The 3 system was purchased from Biosense Webster, Inc., 31A Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618.

[0042] Figure 2A is the tissue of the heart 12 according to an example of the present disclosure (e.g., Figure 1 Schematic illustration of a first three-dimensional (3D) US image 40 of a tissue 33 shown in FIG. 4 and two-dimensional (2D) slices 47 , 48 and 49 selected in the first 3D US image 40 .

[0043] In some examples, the 2D array 42 of the distal tip 28 applies US waves to the chambers and tissues discussed in the heart 12, and receives waves returning from the tissues and / or chambers, as discussed above. Figure 1Based on the returned US waves, the processor 77 is configured to generate at least a volume of interest (hereinafter Figure 3B 3D US image 40 (also referred to herein as first 3D US image 40) shown and described in FIG.

[0044] In some examples, processor 77 is configured to select 2D slices 47-49 within the volume of 3D US image 40. Alternatively, at least one of 2D slices 47-49 may be manually selected by physician 24. Typically, physician 24 selects the relevant 2D slice based on any suitable clinical criteria.

[0045] Figure 2B is a schematic illustration of 2D slices 47 - 49 presented to physician 24 (or any other user of system 10 ) according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0046] exist Figure 2B In the example of , the processor 77 is configured to present the 2D slices 47-49 side by side on the display device 27, so that the physician 24 can view anatomical features that may appear in two or more slices in the 2D slices 47-49 and other anatomical features of the heart 12. In addition, the processor 77 is configured to present the first 3D US image 40 together with the presentation of the 2D slices 47-49. In addition, the processor 77 is configured to present the 3D US image 41 that includes only the selected 2D slices (slices 47-49 in this example). In some examples, in response to an instruction from the physician 24, the processor 77 is configured to rotate one or both of the 3D US images 40 and 41, and optionally, rotate the corresponding orientation of the rotated 2D slices 47-49.

[0047] Figure 3A Schematic illustrations of contours 57 , 58 , and 59 , which are generated in 2D slices 47 , 48 , and 49 , respectively, and indicate regions of interest (ROIs) in the heart 12 , according to examples of the present disclosure.

[0048] In some examples, processor 77 is configured to automatically generate at least one of contours 57-59 and present these contours on 2D slices 47-49, respectively. For example, in two or more slices of 2D slices 47-49, physician 24 may select a rectangle surrounding the ROI, and processor 77 is configured to apply a suitable image processing algorithm, such as but not limited to an automatic contour algorithm, which is configured to identify appropriate contours, such as contours 57-59, based on the position of the rectangle selected by physician 24. In other examples, processor 77 may apply any other suitable algorithm to identify contours 57-59 in 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0049] In other examples, at least one of the contours 57-59 may be generated by a user of the system 10. For example, the physician 24 may define one or more of the contours 57-59 by drawing the contours 57-59 on one or more of the 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0050] It should be noted that in both example implementations, after defining / selecting / generating the contours 57-59, the processor 77 is configured to present them on the display device 27 or on any other display so that the physician can view the selected contours 57-59 on the 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0051] In some examples, the processor 77 is also configured to present the 3D US image 40 together with the 2D slices 47 - 49. For example, the orientation of the 3D US image 40 may correspond to all of the 2D slices 47 - 49.

[0052] Figure 3B is a schematic illustration of a second 3D US image 60 according to an example of the present disclosure, which is a sub-volume of the first 3D US image 40 and includes Figure 3A The contours 57-59 of the 2D slices 47-49 were selected to derive the volume ROI 66.

[0053] In some examples, the processor 77 is configured to display (e.g., on the display device 27) the ROI 66 of the 3D US image 60 as a sub-volume of the 3D US image 40. It should be noted that the processor 77 is configured to generate the volumetric ROI 66 (or any other suitable volumetric ROI) using at least two contours of the corresponding 2D slices. For example, another volumetric ROI may be generated using contours 57 and 58 of 2D slices 47 and 48, respectively.

[0054] In an additional or alternative example, the processor 77 is configured to present only or primarily the ROI 66 in the 3D US image 60, e.g., without presenting the entire volume of the 3D US image 40. Furthermore, in response to an instruction received from the physician 24 (or any other user of the system 10), the processor 77 is configured to rotate the 3D US image 60 so that the physician 24 can see the ROI 66 from various directions and orientations. For example, in the 3D US image 62, the processor 77 is configured to rotate the 3D US image 60 in the direction 63 to see the ROI from a first perspective, and in the 3D US image 64, the processor 77 is configured to rotate the 3D US image 60 in the direction 65 to see the ROI from a second perspective different from the first perspective.

[0055] In some examples, processor 77 is configured to Figure 3BThe distal tip 28 and an indication of the selected 2D slice (such as in the above) are presented in at least one of the 3D US images 60, 62 and 64 (displayed on the display device 27). Figure 2A , 2B and one or more markers of the sections 47-49 shown in 3A). The markers may be as follows Figure 3B The illustration is presented in dashed lines, or in an implemented presentation, or using any other suitable presentation that may assist the physician 24 in identifying the selected 2D slice and contour within the corresponding 3D US image, such as in at least one of the 3D US images 60 , 62 , and 64 .

[0056] Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B The examples are shown by way of example, and in other examples, the processor 77 may receive any other suitable 3D image (e.g., other than ultrasound-based) of the heart 12 or any other suitable organ, and apply the above-described techniques (e.g., selecting 2D slices and contours, and generating subsequent 3D images with a volumetric ROI) to present the volumetric ROI to the user.

[0057] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for cropping a volumetric image 60 of a ROI 66 in the heart 12 from a 3D US image 40 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0058] The method begins at a first 3D US image receiving step 100, where the processor 77 receives a 3D US image 40 of a volume of the heart 12, as described above in Figure 2A In other examples, instead of receiving a 3D US image 40, the processor 77 is configured to generate a 3D US image 40 based on signals received from the distal tip 28, wherein the signals indicate US waves sensed by the 2D array 42, as described above. Figure 1 and Figure 2A Described in detail in .

[0059] At the 2D slice presentation step 102, the processor 77 automatically selects and presents two or more 2D slices in the 3D US image 40, such as the 2D slices 47, 48, and 49, as described above. Figure 2A and Figure 2B In some examples, physician 24 may check whether the selected 2D slices are appropriate, and in other examples, physician 24 may manually select one or more of the 2D slices to be presented (eg, presented on display device 27).

[0060] At contour generation step 104, processor 77 automatically selects two or more contours in two or more of the corresponding 2D slices. For example, processor 77 may automatically select contours 57, 58, and 59 in 2D slices 47, 48, and 49, respectively. In other examples, physician 24 may manually select at least one of contours 57, 58, and 59. In both cases, processor 77 is configured to present contours 57-59 on 2D slices 47-49, respectively, as described above. Figure 3A In other words, the 2D slices and contours may be automatically selected by the processor 77, or manually selected by a user (e.g., the physician 24), or the selection may be implemented by any suitable combination of the physician 24 and the processor 77 (e.g., the processor 77 may recommend and the physician 24 confirms the recommended selection).

[0061] At a second 3D US image generation step 106 concluding the method, the processor 77 is configured to generate a second 3D US image 60 of the volume ROI 66 based on the selected 2D contours (eg, contours 57 - 59 ) and present the second 3D US image 60 to the physician 24 , for example on the display device 27 .

[0062] Although the examples described herein primarily relate to using ultrasound to visualize chambers and tissues in a patient's heart, the methods and systems described herein may also be used in other applications, such as for visualization of other chambers and / or tissues of any organ other than the heart. In addition, the methods and systems described herein may also be used based on 3D images produced by other imaging and / or diagnostic systems having imaging modalities other than ultrasound, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

[0063] Example 1

[0064] A system (10), comprising:

[0065] A processor (77) configured to: (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image (40) of a volume of an organ (12) of a patient (23), (ii) present at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice (47, 48) selected in the first 3D US image, (iii) receive first and second 2D contours (57, 58) of a region of interest (ROI) in the volume selected in the first and second 2D slices (47, 48), respectively, and (iv) generate a second 3D US image (60) of the ROI (66) based on the first and second 2D contours (57, 58); and

[0066] A display (27) configured to present the second 3D US

[0067] Image (60).

[0068] Example 2

[0069] A system according to embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to: (i) receive a signal indicative of US waves returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generate the first 3D US image based on the received signal.

[0070] Example 3

[0071] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice from the first 3D US image.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to receive a selection of at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, and present the selected 2D slice to the user.

[0074] Example 5

[0075] A system as in any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first contour and the second contour.

[0076] Example 6

[0077] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to present at least one of the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour on at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively.

[0078] Example 7

[0079] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the second 3D US image of the ROI and present the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display.

[0080] Example 8

[0081] A system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the processor is configured to generate the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and wherein the display is configured to present the second 3D US image within the at least a portion of the first 3D US image to the user.

[0082] Example 9

[0083] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the display is configured to present at least one marking indicating at least one of the 2D slices on the second 3D US image.

[0084] Example 10

[0085] The system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein the organ includes a heart, and wherein the first 3D US image and the second 3D US image include at least one of a chamber and tissue of the heart.

[0086] Embodiment 11

[0087] A method comprising:

[0088] receiving a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image (60) of a volume of an organ (12) of a patient (23);

[0089] presenting at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice (47, 48) selected in the first 3D US image (40);

[0090] receiving a first 2D contour and a second 2D contour (57, 58) of a region of interest (ROI) (66) in the volume including the organ, the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour being selected in the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice (47, 48), respectively;

[0091] The ROI is generated based on the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour (57, 58)

[0092] (66) a second 3D US image (60); and

[0093] The second 3D US image is presented to a user.

[0094] It should be understood that the above embodiments are cited by way of example, and the present disclosure is not limited to what is specifically shown and described above. On the contrary, the scope of the present disclosure includes combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described above and their variations and modifications, which will occur to a person skilled in the art when reading the above description and which are not disclosed in the prior art. The documents incorporated by reference into this patent application are considered an integral part of this application, unless any term defined in these incorporated documents conflicts with the definition explicitly or implicitly given in this specification, in which case only the definition in this specification shall be considered.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: a processor configured to: (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of an organ of a patient, (ii) present at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice selected in the first 3D US image, (iii) receive a first 2D contour and a second 2D contour of a region of interest (ROI) in the volume including the organ selected in the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively, and (iv) generate a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour; and A display is configured to present the second 3D US image to a user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to: (i) receive signals indicative of US waves returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generate the first 3D US image based on the received signals.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice from the first 3D US image.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to receive a selection of at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice and present the selected 2D slice to the user.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first contour and the second contour.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to present at least one of the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour on at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to rotate the second 3D US image of the ROI and present the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to generate the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and wherein the display is configured to present the second 3D US image within the at least a portion of the first 3D US image to the user.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The display is configured to present at least one marking indicating at least one of the 2D slices on the second 3D US image.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The organ includes a heart, and wherein the first 3D US image and the second 3D US image include at least one of a chamber and tissue of the heart.

11. A method comprising: receiving a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of an organ of a patient; presenting at least a first two-dimensional (2D) slice and a second two-dimensional (2D) slice selected in the first 3D US image; receiving a first 2D contour and a second 2D contour of a region of interest (ROI) in the volume including the organ, the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour being selected in the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively; generating a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour; as well as The second 3D US image is presented to a user.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: Receiving the first 3D US image includes: (i) receiving a signal indicative of US waves returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generating the first 3D US image based on the received signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein: Presenting at least the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice includes automatically selecting at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice from the first 3D US image, and presenting one or more automatically selected 2D slices.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein: Presenting at least the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice includes receiving a selection of at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, and presenting the selected 2D slice to the user.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein: Receiving the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour includes automatically selecting at least one of the first contour and the second contour.

16. The method of claim 11, and comprising presenting at least one of the first 2D contour and the second 2D contour on at least one of the first 2D slice and the second 2D slice, respectively.

17. The method according to claim 11, and comprising rotating the second 3D US image of the ROI, and presenting the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein: Generating the second 3D US image includes generating the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and presenting the second 3D US image within the at least a portion of the first 3D US image to the user.

19. The method according to claim 11, and comprising presenting at least one marker indicating at least one of the 2D slices on the second 3D US image.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The organ includes a heart, and wherein the first 3D US image and the second 3D US image include at least one of a chamber and tissue of the heart.

Images