Method and system for obtaining ultrasound volume from biplanar ultrasound scan

Abstract

Systems and methods for acquiring an ultrasound volume include acquiring sequential biplanar ultrasound images in a first direction using an ultrasound probe of an ultrasound system, the sequential biplanar ultrasound image comprises a first ultrasound image plane or a first ultrasound image volume along a first plane and a second ultrasound image plane or a second ultrasound image volume along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction and the second plane corresponding to the second direction; calculating one or more first displacements of the sequential biplanar ultrasound image in the first direction during the acquisition; positioning the second ultrasound image plane or the second ultrasound image volume in sequence, wherein the second ultrasound image plane or the second ultrasound image volume is positioned according to the one or more first displacements; and generating the ultrasound volume by combining the second ultrasound image plane or the second ultrasound image volume.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Certain embodiments relate to ultrasound imaging. More specifically, certain embodiments relate to methods and systems for obtaining ultrasound volumes from bi-plane ultrasound images. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasound imaging is a medical imaging technique used to image anatomical structures in the human body, such as organs and soft tissues. Ultrasound imaging uses real-time, non-invasive, high-frequency sound waves to produce two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound images.

[0003] Ultrasound imaging is a powerful visualization tool. Ultrasound images are acquired by an ultrasound probe, which can be used to scan anatomical structures to produce ultrasound images. However, current methods and ultrasound systems for acquiring 3D volumes require expensive equipment (e.g., 3D ultrasound probes), produce low-quality ultrasound volumes, and / or are unable to produce volumes for large anatomical structures.

[0004] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to those skilled in the art by comparing such systems with certain aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of this application with reference to the accompanying figures. Summary of the invention

[0005] There is provided a system and / or method for obtaining an ultrasound volume from a dual plane ultrasound scan, substantially as shown and / or described in conjunction with at least one of the accompanying drawings, and as more fully set forth in the claims.

[0006] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary ultrasound system operable to obtain an ultrasound volume from a bi-plane ultrasound scan in accordance with various embodiments.

[0008] Figure 2 is an example illustration of a bi-plane ultrasound image with a displacement along a first movement direction that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume according to various embodiments.

[0009] Figure 3 is an example illustration of a bi-plane ultrasound volume with a displacement along a first movement direction that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume according to various embodiments.

[0010] Figure 4Ais a graphical illustration of placement of a second plane ultrasound image of an ultrasound volume using displacements in accordance with various embodiments.

[0011] Figure 4B is a graphical illustration of combining second plane ultrasound images to form an ultrasound volume in accordance with various embodiments.

[0012] Figure 5 is an example illustration of a bi-plane ultrasound image along a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume according to various embodiments.

[0013] Figure 6 is an example illustration of a bi-plane ultrasound volume along a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume according to various embodiments.

[0014] Figure 7 is an example illustration of a bi-plane ultrasound image with one or more rotations that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume in accordance with various embodiments.

[0015] Figure 8 are example illustrations of geometric ultrasound volumes that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume according to various embodiments.

[0016] Fig. 9 is an example artificial intelligence model that may be used to generate probe motion parameters to form an ultrasound volume from a biplane ultrasound image, according to various embodiments.

[0017] Fig.10 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps 1102 through 1116 that may be used to obtain an ultrasound volume from a bi-plane ultrasound image in accordance with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Certain embodiments may exist in methods and systems for obtaining ultrasound volumes from dual-plane ultrasound images. Aspects of the present disclosure have the technical effect of providing a complete 3D volume scanned by ultrasound using a 2D probe. Various embodiments have the technical effect of rendering a 3D volume using a 2D dual-plane ultrasound image. Certain embodiments have the technical effect of rendering a 3D volume by calculating the displacement of a dual-plane ultrasound image. Various embodiments have the technical effect of rendering a 3D volume of a large anatomical structure using a linear scan. Various embodiments have the technical effect of presenting a rendering of a 3D volume to an ultrasound operator, which 3D volume can be manipulated by the operator to present a specific view or visualize an anatomical structure, even though the view or visualization was not directly scanned by the ultrasound probe.

[0019] When read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the following specific embodiments of the foregoing invention content and certain embodiments will be better understood. In terms of the scope of the diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, these functional blocks do not necessarily represent the division between the hardware circuit system. Therefore, for example, one or more functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) can be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general signal processor or random access memory block, a hard disk, etc.) or multiple pieces of hardware. Similarly, a program can be an independent program, can be included in an operating system as a subroutine, can be a function in an installed software package, etc. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and tools shown in the accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that embodiments can be combined, or other embodiments can be used, and structural, logical and electrical changes can be made without departing from the scope of various embodiments. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be regarded as a restrictive meaning, and the scope of the present disclosure is limited by the attached claims and their equivalents.

[0020] As used herein, elements or steps listed in the singular and beginning with the word "one" or "an" should be understood as not excluding a plurality of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. In addition, references to "exemplary embodiments," "various embodiments," "certain embodiments," "representative embodiments," etc. are not intended to be interpreted as excluding additional embodiments that also include the features of the narration. In addition, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments that "comprise," "include," or "have" an element or multiple elements with a particular attribute may include additional elements that do not have that attribute.

[0021] In addition, as used herein, the term "image" refers broadly to both visible images and data representing visible images. However, many embodiments generate (or are configured to generate) at least one visible image. In addition, as used herein, the phrase "image" is used to refer to an ultrasound mode, which can be one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D) or four-dimensional (4D), and includes brightness mode (B mode), motion mode (M mode), color motion mode (CM mode), color flow mode (CF mode), pulsed wave (PW) Doppler, continuous wave (CW) Doppler, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and / or B mode and / or CF mode sub-mode, such as harmonic imaging, shear wave elastic imaging (SWEI), strain elastic imaging, tissue velocity imaging (TVI), power Doppler imaging (PDI), B flow, microangiography (MVI), ultrasound-guided attenuation parameters (UGAP), etc. As used herein, the term "ultrasound image" is used to refer to ultrasound images and / or ultrasound image volumes, such as a bi-plane image, a single 2D image, a rendering of a volume (3D / 4D), a 2D bi-plane image slice extracted from a volume (3D / 4D), and / or any suitable ultrasound image.

[0022] Furthermore, as used herein, the term processor or processing unit refers to any type of processing unit that can perform the required computations required by various embodiments, such as a single-core or multi-core CPU, an accelerated processing unit (APU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination thereof.

[0023] It should be noted that various embodiments of generating or forming an image described herein may include processing for forming an image that includes beamforming in some embodiments and does not include beamforming in other embodiments. For example, an image may be formed without beamforming, such as by multiplying a matrix of demodulated data by a matrix of coefficients such that the product is an image and wherein the process does not form any "beams." Furthermore, the formation of an image may be performed using a combination of channels that may result from more than one transmit event (e.g., synthetic aperture techniques).

[0024] In various embodiments, ultrasound processing to form images, including ultrasound beamforming, such as receive beamforming, is performed, for example, in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. One specific implementation of an ultrasound system having a software beamformer architecture formed according to various embodiments is described in Figure 1 Shown in.

[0025] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary ultrasound system 100 operable to obtain an ultrasound volume from a biplane ultrasound scan. Figure 1 , an ultrasound system 100 and a training system 200 are shown. The ultrasound system 100 includes a transmitter 102, an ultrasound probe 104, a transmit beamformer 110, a receiver 118, a receive beamformer 120, an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter 122, a radio frequency (RF) processor 124, an RF quadrature (RF / IQ) buffer 126, a user input device 130, a signal processor 132, an image buffer 136, a display system 134, and an archive 138.

[0026] The transmitter 102 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to drive an ultrasound probe 104. The ultrasound probe 104 may include a two-dimensional (2D) array of piezoelectric elements. In various embodiments, the ultrasound probe 104 may be a matrix array transducer or any suitable transducer operable to acquire 2D and / or 3D ultrasound image data sets. The ultrasound probe 104 may include a set of transmitting transducer elements 106 and a set of receiving transducer elements 108 that are generally constructed of the same elements. In certain embodiments, the ultrasound probe 104 may be operable to acquire ultrasound image data covering at least a majority of an anatomical structure, such as an abdomen, heart, fetus, lungs, blood vessels, or any suitable anatomical structure.

[0027] The transmit beamformer 110 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to control the transmitter 102 to drive the set of transmit transducer elements 106 via the transmit sub-aperture beamformer 114 to transmit ultrasound transmit signals into a region of interest (e.g., a person, an animal, an underground cavity, a physical structure, etc.). The transmitted ultrasound signals may be backscattered from structures in the object of interest (such as blood cells or tissue) to produce echoes. The echoes are received by the receive transducer elements 108.

[0028] The set of receive transducer elements 108 in the ultrasound probe 104 may be operable to convert received echoes into analog signals, sub-aperture beamformed by the receive sub-aperture beamformer 116, and then communicated to the receiver 118. The receiver 118 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to receive the signals from the receive sub-aperture beamformer 116. The analog signals may be communicated to one or more of the plurality of A / D converters 122.

[0029] The plurality of A / D converters 122 may include suitable logic components, circuit systems, interfaces, and / or codes that may be operable to convert analog signals from the receiver 118 into corresponding digital signals. The plurality of A / D converters 122 are disposed between the receiver 118 and the RF processor 124. Nevertheless, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. Therefore, in some embodiments, the plurality of A / D converters 122 may be integrated within the receiver 118.

[0030] The RF processor 124 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to demodulate the digital signals output by the plurality of A / D converters 122. According to an embodiment, the RF processor 124 may include a complex demodulator (not shown) that may be operable to demodulate the digital signals to form I / Q data pairs representing corresponding echo signals. The RF or I / Q signal data may then be communicated to the RF / IQ buffer 126. The RF / IQ buffer 126 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to provide temporary storage of the RF or I / Q signal data generated by the RF processor 124.

[0031] The receive beamformer 120 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to perform digital beamforming processing to, for example, sum delayed channel signals received from the RF processor 124 via the RF / IQ buffer 126 and output a beam summed signal. The resulting processed information may be a beam summed signal output from the receive beamformer 120 and communicated to the signal processor 132. According to some embodiments, the receiver 118, the plurality of A / D converters 122, the RF processor 124, and the beamformer 120 may be integrated into a single beamformer, which may be a digital beamformer. In various embodiments, the ultrasound system 100 includes a plurality of receive beamformers 120.

[0032] The user input device 130 may be used to input patient data, scan parameters, settings, select protocols and / or templates, select displacement parameters to acquire displacements in one or more directions and / or rotational displacements, manipulate the acquired 3D volume, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the user input device 130 may be operable to configure, manage, and / or control the operation of one or more components and / or modules in the ultrasound system 100. In this regard, the user input device 130 may be operable to configure, manage, and / or control the operation of the transmitter 102, ultrasound probe 104, transmit beamformer 110, receiver 118, receive beamformer 120, RF processor 124, RF / IQ buffer 126, user input device 130, signal processor 132, image buffer 136, display system 134, and / or archive 138. The user input device 130 may include buttons, rotary encoders, touch screens, motion tracking, voice recognition, a mouse device, a keyboard, a camera, and / or any other device capable of receiving user instructions. In certain embodiments, one or more of the user input devices 130 may be integrated into other components, such as the display system 134 or the ultrasound probe 104, for example. For example, the user input device 130 may include a touch screen display.

[0033] The signal processor 132 may include suitable logic components, circuit systems, interfaces and / or codes that may be operable to process ultrasound scan data (i.e., summed IQ signals) to generate ultrasound images for presentation on the display system 134. The signal processor 132 may be operable to perform one or more processing operations based on a plurality of selectable ultrasound modalities on the acquired ultrasound scan data. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal processor 132 may be operable to perform display processing and / or control processing, etc. The acquired ultrasound scan data may be processed in real time during a scanning session as echo signals are received. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasound scan data may be temporarily stored in the RF / IQ buffer 126 during the scanning session and processed in a less real-time manner in an online operation or an offline operation. In various embodiments, the processed image data may be presented at the display system 134 and / or may be stored at the archive 138. The archive 138 may be a local archive, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a remote archive, or any suitable device for storing images and related information.

[0034] The signal processor 132 may be one or more central processing units, microprocessors, microcontrollers, etc. For example, the signal processor 132 may be an integrated component, or may be distributed in various locations. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal processor 132 may include an image acquisition processor 140, a displacement processor 150, and a positioning processor 160. The signal processor 132 may be capable of receiving input information from the user input device 130 and / or the archive 138, generating output that may be displayed by the display system 134, and manipulating the output in response to the input information from the user input device 130, etc. For example, the signal processor 132, the image acquisition processor 140, the displacement processor 150, and / or the positioning processor 160 may be capable of executing any of the methods and / or instruction sets discussed herein according to various embodiments.

[0035] The ultrasound system 100 may be operable to continuously acquire ultrasound scan data at a frame rate suitable for the imaging situation under consideration. Typical frame rates are in the range of 20 to 120, but may be lower or higher. The acquired ultrasound scan data may be displayed on the display system 134 at the same rate as the frame rate or at a display rate that is slower or faster than the frame rate. An image buffer 136 is included to store processed frames of acquired ultrasound scan data that are not scheduled for immediate display. Preferably, the image buffer 136 has sufficient capacity to store ultrasound scan data frames equivalent to at least several minutes. The frames of ultrasound scan data are stored in a manner that is easy to retrieve from them according to their acquisition order or time. The image buffer 136 may be embodied as any known data storage medium.

[0036] The signal processor 132 may include an image acquisition processor 140 including suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to acquire ultrasound images of anatomical structures, such as cardiac structures, gastrointestinal structures, urinary structures, reproductive structures, cardiac structures, lung structures, and / or any suitable anatomical structures. The ultrasound images may be ultrasound images and / or ultrasound image volumes, such as biplane images, single 2D images, renderings of volumes (3D / 4D), 2D biplane image slices extracted from volumes (3D / 4D), and / or any suitable ultrasound images.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, the image acquisition processor 140 may acquire a series of ultrasound images using the ultrasound probe 104 that moves across the anatomical structure. The image acquisition processor 140 may capture a series of ultrasound images along a first direction of movement corresponding to a first plane. Additionally and / or alternatively, the image acquisition processor 140 may capture a series of ultrasound images along a second direction of movement corresponding to a second plane, capture a series of ultrasound images along additional different directions of movement, and / or capture a series of ultrasound images along one or more rotational axes.

[0038] The ultrasound image may be a biplane ultrasound image including an ultrasound image in a first plane and an ultrasound image in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane may be at an angle to each other. In some embodiments, the two planes are orthogonal to each other. In some examples, the first plane is an elevation plane, and the second plane is an azimuth plane. When the ultrasound probe 104 scans linearly along the first plane in a first direction, the ultrasound probe captures a series of biplane ultrasound images. When capturing ultrasound images as ultrasound image volumes, the ultrasound probe may capture 2D biplane images, image slices, or ultrasound image volumes. In some examples, subsets of image 2D biplane images or image slices may be combined to form ultrasound image volumes. Then, when the ultrasound probe 104 moves across the anatomical structure, the ultrasound image volume may be obtained sequentially. The biplane ultrasound image and / or ultrasound image volume may be stored in an archive and / or may be provided to the displacement processor 150 and / or the positioning processor 150.

[0039] Figure 2 An example illustration 300 of a biplane ultrasound image with displacement along a first movement direction is provided, which biplane ultrasound image can be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. The illustration 300 includes an example diagram 310 of an intersecting ultrasound image, an example diagram 320 of a displacement of an ultrasound image, a first ultrasound image 350, and a second ultrasound image 360. The example diagram 310 includes a first plane representation 330 and a second plane representation 340, which can be in an elevation plane and an azimuth plane, respectively. The first plane representation 330 and the second plane representation 340 intersect at a centerline 312. In some examples, the first plane representation 330 and the second plane representation 340 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane ultrasound representation 330 is orthogonal to the second plane representation 340 (for example, the first plane representation 330 is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation 340). The example diagram 320 includes a first plane representation 332, a second plane representation 340, and a second plane representation 342. In some examples, the first plane is an elevation plane and the second plane is an azimuth plane.

[0040] When the ultrasound probe 104 moves approximately linearly across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while traveling along the first movement direction. For example, the ultrasound image 350 can be a first 2D bi-plane ultrasound image captured along the elevation plane. The ultrasound image 360 ​​can be a second 2D bi-plane ultrasound image along the elevation plane. The first plane representation 330 can be a representation of the ultrasound image 350, and the first plane representation 332 can be a representation of the ultrasound image 360. The ultrasound images 350, 360 depict the centerline 312. Additionally, the ultrasound image 360 ​​depicts a displacement line 314, which represents the intersection of the first plane representation 332 and the second plane representation 342. Since the ultrasound probe 104 moves linearly along the first plane (e.g., the elevation plane), the first plane representation 330 and the first plane representation 332 are on the same plane (e.g., the first plane, the elevation plane, etc.), and the first displacement 313 can be calculated from the movement of the intersection of the first plane and the second plane on the ultrasound images 350, 360 (e.g., the center line 312) to the displacement line 314 on the ultrasound image 360. In some examples, the first displacement 313 between the displacement line 314 and the center line 312 can be calculated by the displacement processor 150.

[0041] Back to Figure 1 , the signal processor 132 may include a displacement processor 150 including suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to calculate displacement information for a series of ultrasound images acquired by the image acquisition processor 140. For example, the displacement processor 150 may be configured to receive the series of ultrasound images from the image acquisition processor 140, or retrieve the series of ultrasound images from the archive 138 and / or any suitable data storage medium, in order to calculate the displacement between each of the acquired ultrasound images.

[0042] The displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement from the center line of the first plane ultrasound image to one or more displacement lines in the subsequent ultrasound images in the series of ultrasound images. For example, the series of ultrasound images may be a dual-plane ultrasound image, which includes a first plane ultrasound image and a second plane ultrasound image. The center line may be the intersection of the first plane and the second plane on the first plane ultrasound image. After moving in a linear direction along the first plane, the displacement from the new intersection of the first plane and the second plane to the center line captured on the subsequent first plane ultrasound image may be calculated. In some examples, the displacement from the center line may be used as the displacement of the remaining series of ultrasound images (e.g., the displacement between each image in the series of ultrasound images). In some other examples, the displacement from the intersection of the first plane and the second plane of each first plane ultrasound image in the subsequent first plane ultrasound image to the intersection of each first plane ultrasound image in the previous first plane ultrasound image may be calculated. The displacement calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0043] In some examples, the displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement between a series of sequential ultrasound images obtained by the ultrasound probe 104 along a first plane in a first direction. Additionally and / or alternatively, the displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement in the second direction along a second plane that is angled relative to the first plane. The displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement of additional planes along additional directions. Additionally and / or alternatively, the displacement processor 150 may calculate the rotational displacement along one or more axes of the series of ultrasound images. The displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement and / or rotational displacement along one or more planes individually, simultaneously and / or sequentially. In some examples, when calculating the plane displacement and / or rotational displacement, the displacement processor 150 may assume a null displacement or a zero displacement and / or a zero rotation. In some examples, the displacement processor 150 may calculate the displacement and / or rotational displacement along one or more planes using the normalized cross-correlation between each ultrasound image in the series of ultrasound images.

[0044] Figure 3 4 is an example illustration 400 of a bi-plane ultrasound volume with displacement along a first movement direction that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. The illustration 400 includes an example illustration 410 of a first plane 430 intersecting a second plane representation volume 440, an example illustration 420 of the displacement, a first ultrasound image 450, and a second ultrasound image 460.

[0045] The exemplary diagram 410 includes a first plane representation 430 (e.g., along an elevation plane) and a representation of a second plane representation volume 440 (e.g., along an azimuth plane). The first plane representation 430 and the second plane representation volume 440 intersect at a centerline 412. In some examples, the first plane representation 430 and the second plane representation volume 440 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 430 is orthogonal to the second plane representation volume 440 (e.g., the first plane ultrasound image is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation volume 440). The exemplary diagram 420 includes a first plane representation 432, a second plane representation volume 440, and a second plane representation volume 442. In some examples, the second plane representation volume 440 and the second plane representation volume 442 overlap.

[0046] When the ultrasound probe 104 moves approximately linearly across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while traveling along the first movement direction. For example, the ultrasound image 450 may be a first 2D bi-plane ultrasound image captured along the elevation plane. The ultrasound image 460 may be a second 2D bi-plane ultrasound image along the elevation plane. The first plane representation 430 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 450, and the first plane representation 432 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 460. The ultrasound images 450, 460 depict the centerline 412. Additionally, the ultrasound image 460 depicts a displacement line 414, which represents the intersection of the first plane representation 432 and the second plane representation volume 442. The displacement 413 between the second plane representation volume 440 and the second plane representation volume 442 may be calculated. In some examples, the displacement 413 between the displacement line 414 and the centerline 412 may be calculated by the displacement processor 150. A second displacement from the second plane representation volume to a subsequent ultrasound image volume may be calculated. Additional displacements of a series of image volumes along the same plane may be calculated. The displacements and / or additional displacements calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored and / or provided to the positioning processor 160 .

[0047] See again Figure 1 According to various embodiments, the signal processor 132 may include a positioning processor 160 including suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to cause the display system 134 to present an ultrasound image volume based on the displacement of the series of ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound probe 104. The displacement of the sequential ultrasound images may be received from the displacement processor 150 and / or retrieved from the archive 138.

[0048] In some examples, the displacement measured from the first plane ultrasound image in the series of biplane ultrasound images may be used by the positioning processor 160 to form an ultrasound volume by positioning the second plane ultrasound image in the biplane ultrasound image according to the displacement in the first plane ultrasound image using the displacement. For example, the positioning processor 160 may obtain the displacement along the first plane of a 2D biplane ultrasound image, the 2D biplane ultrasound image including biplane ultrasound images along a first plane (e.g., the first plane ultrasound image) and a second plane (e.g., the second plane ultrasound image), and use the displacement along the first plane to sequentially position the second plane ultrasound image according to the displacement calculated along the first plane. In some examples, the first plane is an elevation plane, and the second plane is an azimuth plane.

[0049] Figure 4A Provides the use of the above Figure 2 and Figure 3 (and below about Figures 5 to 9 ) is a graphical illustration 510 of placement of a displaced second plane ultrasound image 520 depicted in FIG. Figure 4B A graphical illustration 530 of combining the second planar ultrasound images 520 to form an ultrasound volume 570 is provided. Figure 4A , the series of second-plane ultrasound images 520 may be sequentially positioned using the displacements calculated along the first plane as described above. For example, the positioning processor 160 may obtain displacements along the first plane of a 2D biplane ultrasound image including biplane ultrasound images along the first plane and the second plane, and use the displacements along the first plane to sequentially position the second-plane ultrasound images using the displacements calculated along the first plane. The series of ultrasound images 520 may be images and / or image volumes.

[0050] See also Figure 4BOnce the second plane ultrasound images 520 are positioned by the positioning processor, the graphical illustration 530 provides combining the second plane ultrasound images 520 to form an ultrasound volume 570. In some examples, the positioning processor 160 may form a 3D ultrasound volume by combining all of the second plane ultrasound images 520. In some other examples, the positioning processor 160 may form a 3D ultrasound volume by combining a subset 522 of the second plane ultrasound images 520. For example, the second plane ultrasound image 540 may be combined with the second plane ultrasound image 550 and the second plane ultrasound image 560. Additionally and / or alternatively, the second plane ultrasound images 540, 550, 560 may be combined with additional second plane ultrasound images in the subset 522 to form the ultrasound volume 570. In some examples, such as when the ultrasound images 520 are image volumes, the ultrasound images 520 may overlap, and the combined ultrasound images may account for any overlap between the ultrasound images 520. In some other examples, such as when the ultrasound images are 2D images, the ultrasound images 520 may have spaces or gaps between the ultrasound images 520, and the ultrasound images 520 may be interpolated. In some examples, the ultrasound images 520 may be interpolated, for example, by calculating approximations of the spaces or gaps between the ultrasound images and using the calculated approximations when forming the 3D ultrasound volume. In some examples, the positioning processor 160 may store the 3D ultrasound volume information in the archive 138 and / or may render the 3D ultrasound volume on the display 134.

[0051] Figure 5 600 is an example illustration of a 2D biplane ultrasound image along a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement, which biplane ultrasound image can be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. Illustration 600 includes an example diagram 610 of two intersecting ultrasound image representations, an example diagram 620 of displacement, a first ultrasound image 650 and a second ultrasound image 660. Example diagram 610 includes a first plane representation 630, a first plane representation 632, a second plane representation 640 and a second plane representation 642. In some examples, the first plane can be an elevation plane and the second plane can be an azimuth plane. The first plane representation 630 and the second plane representation 640 intersect at a centerline 612. In some examples, the first plane representation 630 and the second plane representation 640 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 630 is orthogonal to the second plane representation 640 (for example, the first plane representation 630 is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation 640). In some examples, the first plane is an elevation plane and the second plane is an azimuth plane. Exemplary diagram 620 includes similar elements as exemplary diagram 610 , and further includes a first plane representation 634 and a second plane representation 644 .

[0052] When the ultrasound probe 104 moves across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while traveling along a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement. For example, the ultrasound images 650, 660 may be 2D dual-plane ultrasound images captured along an elevation plane. The first plane representation 630 along the elevation plane may be a representation of the ultrasound image 650, and the first plane representation 632 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 660 along the elevation plane. The ultrasound image 650 depicts a centerline 612, which represents the intersection of the first plane representation 630 and the second plane representation 640. Additionally, the ultrasound image 650 depicts a first plane displacement 614 to the right of the centerline 612, which represents the intersection of the first plane representation 630 and the second plane representation 642. The ultrasound image 660 depicts a centerline 616, which is the intersection of the first plane representation 632 and the second plane representation 642. Additionally, ultrasound image 660 depicts displacement line 618 to the left of centerline 616, which represents the intersection of first plane representation 632 and second plane representation 640. In some examples, displacement 613 of the first plane between displacement line 614 and centerline 612 may be calculated by displacement processor 150.

[0053] In some examples, a second displacement along a second plane may also be calculated. For example, a displacement 615 between the first plane representation 630 and the first plane representation 632 may be calculated along the second plane representation 642 and the second plane representation 640. In some examples, additional displacements between a series of ultrasound images obtained by the acquisition processor 140 may be calculated. For example, exemplary diagram 620 depicts additional displacements 619, 621 calculated for a first plane representation 634 and a second plane representation 644, which represent additional ultrasound images from a series of ultrasound images acquired by the image acquisition processor 140. In some examples, the additional displacements 619, 621 may be measured at different regions of the ultrasound image and may be used to assess the accuracy of the additional displacements 619, 621 and / or other displacement measurements (such as displacement 613 and / or displacement 615). The displacements and / or additional displacements calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored in the archive 138 and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0054] Figure 6 7 is an example illustration 700 of a bi-plane ultrasound volume along a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement that may be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. The illustration 700 includes an exemplary diagram 710 of displacement of the volume in the first direction and the second direction, a first ultrasound image 750 and a second ultrasound image 760.

[0055] The exemplary diagram 710 includes a first plane representation 730, a first plane representation 732, a second plane representation volume 740 (e.g., along an azimuthal plane), and a second plane representation volume 742. The first plane representation 730 and the second plane representation volume 740 intersect at the centerline 412. In some examples, the first plane representation 730 and the second plane representation volume 740 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 730 is orthogonal to the second plane representation volume 740 (e.g., the first plane ultrasound image is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation volume 740). In some examples, the second plane representation volume 740 and the second plane representation volume 742 overlap.

[0056] When the ultrasound probe 104 moves approximately linearly across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while traveling along the first movement direction. For example, the ultrasound image 750 may be a first 2D bi-plane ultrasound image captured along the elevation plane. The ultrasound image 760 may be a second 2D bi-plane ultrasound image along the elevation plane. The first plane representation 730 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 750, and the first plane representation 732 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 760. The ultrasound images 750, 760 depict the centerline 712. Additionally, the ultrasound image 760 depicts a displacement line 714, which represents the intersection of the first plane representation 732 and the second plane representation volume 742. The displacement 713 between the second plane representation volume 740 and the second plane representation volume 742 may be calculated. In some examples, the displacement 713 between the displacement line 714 and the centerline 712 may be calculated by the displacement processor 150. A second displacement from the second plane representation volume to the subsequent ultrasound image volume along the first plane (e.g., the elevation plane) may be calculated. Additional displacements of a series of image volumes along the first plane may be calculated.

[0057] In some examples, a displacement along a second plane may also be calculated. For example, a displacement 715 between the first plane representation 730 and the first plane representation 732 may be calculated along the second plane representation volume 742 and the second plane representation volume 740. In some examples, additional displacements between a series of ultrasound images obtained by the acquisition processor 140 may be calculated.

[0058] In some examples, the displacements 713, 715 may be measured at different locations on the ultrasound image and may be used to assess the accuracy of the displacements 713, 715 and / or other displacement measurements. The displacements and / or additional displacements calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored in the archive 138 and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0059] Figure 7800 is an example illustration of a biplane ultrasound image with one or more rotations that can be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. The illustration 800 includes an example illustration 810 of an ultrasound image with a rotational displacement, an example illustration 820 of an ultrasound volume with a rotational displacement, a first ultrasound image 850, and a second ultrasound image 860. The example illustration 810 includes a first plane representation 830, a first plane representation 832, a second plane representation 840, and a second plane representation 842. In some examples, the first plane may be an elevation plane, and the second plane may be an azimuth plane. The first plane representation 830 and the second plane representation 840 intersect at a centerline 812. In some examples, the first plane representation 830 and the second plane representation 840 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 830 is orthogonal to the second plane representation 840 (e.g., the first plane representation 830 is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation 840). In some examples, the first plane is an elevation plane, and the second plane is an azimuth plane.

[0060] As the ultrasound probe 104 moves across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while rotating with a rotation 814 and / or a rotation 816. For example, the ultrasound images 850, 860 may be 2D bi-plane ultrasound images captured along an elevation plane. A first plane representation 830 along an elevation plane may be a representation of the ultrasound image 850, and a first plane representation 832 may be a representation of the ultrasound image 860 along an elevation plane. The ultrasound image 850 depicts a centerline 812 that represents the intersection of the first plane representation 830 and the second plane representation 840. The ultrasound image 860 depicts the centerline 812 and a first rotation 814 to the left of the centerline 812 that represents the intersection of the first plane representation 830 and the second plane representation 842. The rotation 814 may be calculated by the displacement processor 150, which measures the offset and / or rotation between the first plane representation 830 and the first plane representation 832.

[0061] In some examples, a rotation 816 may also be calculated by the displacement processor 150. For example, a rotation 816 of the second plane representation 840 and the second plane representation 842 may be calculated. In some examples, additional rotations may be calculated between a series of ultrasound images obtained by the acquisition processor 140. In some examples, additional rotations may be measured at different regions / locations of the ultrasound images and may be used to assess the accuracy of the additional rotations and / or other displacement measurements. The rotations, additional rotations, and / or displacements calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored in the archive 138 and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0062] Exemplary diagram 820 includes a first plane representation 830, a first plane representation 832, a second plane representation volume 870, and a second plane representation volume 872. In some examples, the first plane representation 830 and the second plane representation volume 870 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 830 is orthogonal to the second plane representation volume 870 (e.g., the first plane representation 830 is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation volume 870). In some examples, the second plane representation volume 870 and the second plane representation volume 872 overlap.

[0063] The first plane representation 830 may be a representation of an ultrasound image 850, and the first plane representation 832 may be a representation of an ultrasound image 860. A rotation 819 between the second plane representation volume 870 and the second plane representation volume 872 may be calculated. Additional rotations along a first plane (e.g., an elevation plane) from the second plane representation volume 872 to a subsequent ultrasound image volume may be calculated. Additional rotations of a series of ultrasound images along a second plane may also be calculated. In some examples, additional displacements between a series of ultrasound images obtained by the acquisition processor 140 may be calculated.

[0064] In some examples, the rotations 814, 816, 819 may be measured at different locations on the ultrasound image and may be used to assess the accuracy of 814, 816, 819 and / or other displacement measurements. The rotations and / or additional rotations calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored in the archive 138 and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0065] Figure 8 9 is an example illustration 900 of a geometric ultrasound volume that can be acquired to form an ultrasound volume. Illustration 900 includes an example diagram 910 of a displacement of a first plane representation 930 intersecting with a second plane representation volume 940, an example diagram 920 of a displacement of a first plane representation volume 970, and a second plane representation volume 940. Example diagram 910 includes a first plane representation 930 (e.g., along an elevation plane) and a second plane representation volume 940 (e.g., along an azimuth plane). The first plane representation 930 and the second plane representation volume 940 intersect. In some examples, the first plane representation 930 and the second plane representation volume 940 are angled relative to each other. In some examples, the first plane representation 930 is orthogonal to the second plane representation volume 940 (e.g., the first plane ultrasound image is at a 90 degree angle to the second plane representation volume 940). Example diagram 920 includes a first plane representation volume 970 and a second plane representation volume 940.

[0066] When the ultrasound probe 104 moves approximately linearly across the anatomical structure, the image acquisition processor 140 captures ultrasound images while traveling along the first movement direction and / or the second movement direction. For example, the first plane representation 930 and the first plane representation volume 970 may be captured along the elevation plane. The second plane representation volume 940 may be captured on the azimuth plane. Since each of the first plane representation volume 970 and the second plane representation volume 940 is a geometric volume, several additional planes may be captured while scanning the first plane representation volume and the second plane representation volume 940.

[0067] A displacement between the second plane representation volume 940 and a subsequent second plane representation volume and / or between the first plane representation volume 970 and a subsequent first plane representation volume may be calculated (not shown). In some examples, a displacement from the intersection of the first plane representation 930 and the second plane representation volume 940 may be calculated by the displacement processor 150. Additional displacements may be calculated for a series of geometric volumes along the same plane. The displacements and / or additional displacements calculated by the displacement processor 150 may be stored and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0068] Fig. 9 is an example artificial intelligence model that can be used to generate probe motion parameters to form an ultrasound volume from an ultrasound image. For example, the motion of the ultrasound probe 104 can be analyzed to capture the motion of the ultrasound probe 104 (e.g., along one or more planes, and / or one or more rotations) when the ultrasound probe captures an ultrasound image. The motion of the ultrasound probe 104 can be used by a neural network to generate probe motion parameters 1040 and / or time data. In some examples, the ultrasound probe 104 motion parameters 1040 may include displacements and / or rotations of one or more planes of a series of biplane images. The probe motion parameters 1040 and / or time data may be stored in a training database such as the training database 220. In some examples, the positioning processor 160 may obtain probe motion parameters, displacement information, and / or rotation information to position a series of ultrasound images to construct a 3D ultrasound volume.

[0069] See again Figure 1, the displacement processor 150 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to analyze the acquired ultrasound probe motion of the ultrasound operator to detect probe motion parameters that vary over time in one or more planes (e.g., azimuth plane, elevation plane, etc.), and store the probe motion parameters and / or provide the probe motion parameters to the positioning processor 160 to construct a 3D ultrasound volume of an anatomical structure (e.g., cardiac structure, gastrointestinal structure, urinary structure, reproductive structure, heart structure, lung structure, and / or any suitable anatomical structure) from the acquired bi-plane ultrasound images. In this regard, the displacement processor 150 may include, for example, motion and / or image analysis algorithms, one or more deep neural networks (e.g., convolutional neural networks, such as u-net), and / or may utilize any suitable form of motion and / or image analysis techniques, artificial intelligence, or machine learning processing functionality configured to detect motion parameters of an ultrasound probe that collects ultrasound images.

[0070] Additionally and / or alternatively, any suitable form of motion and / or image analysis technology, artificial intelligence or machine learning processing functionality configured to detect motion parameters of an ultrasound probe collecting ultrasound images may be provided by different processors, or distributed on multiple processors at the ultrasound system 100 and / or distributed on a remote processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasound system 100. For example, the motion and / or image analysis functionality may be provided as a deep neural network, which may be composed of, for example, an input layer, an output layer, and one or more hidden layers between the input layer and the output layer. Each layer may be composed of multiple processing nodes, which may be referred to as neurons. For example, the motion and / or image analysis functionality may include an input layer having a neuron for each pixel of the ultrasound image and / or voxel of the ultrasound volume. The output layer may have neurons corresponding to each myocardium, ventricle, and / or any suitable anatomical structure. Each neuron of each layer may perform a processing function and pass the processed ultrasound image and / or motion information to one of the multiple neurons in the downstream layer for further processing. For example, the neurons of the first layer may learn to recognize movement to obtain an ultrasound image and / or volume and convert the movement into motion parameters. The neurons in the second layer can learn to locate a series of ultrasound images based on the motion parameters from the first layer. The neurons in the third layer can learn to construct volumes from the acquired ultrasound images and / or volumes. The processing performed by the deep neural network can identify ultrasound probe motion parameters (including displacement and / or rotation along one or more planes), acquire ultrasound images, and construct ultrasound volumes with high probability.

[0071] In various embodiments, the positioning processor 160 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be operable to generate a 3D ultrasound volume using the displacement and / or rotation information obtained from the displacement processor 150, and cause the display system 134 to present the generated 3D ultrasound volume. For example, the positioning processor 150 may cause the display system to present the 3D ultrasound volume on the display 134. In some embodiments, the ultrasound operator may provide input via the user input device 130 and / or the touch screen display 130, 134 to display a target view of the 3D ultrasound volume and / or manipulate the 3D ultrasound volume. For example, the ultrasound operator may rotate the 3D ultrasound volume, zoom in on certain portions of the 3D ultrasound volume, zoom out, etc. Additionally and / or alternatively, the generated 3D ultrasound volume may be stored at the archive 138 and / or any suitable computer-readable medium.

[0072] See again Figure 1 The display system 134 may be any device capable of conveying visual information to a user. For example, the display system 134 may include a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, and / or any suitable one or more displays. The display system 134 may be operable to present the 2D / 3D ultrasound images 350, 360, 450, 460, 650, 660, 750, 760, 850, 860 and / or any suitable information.

[0073] The archive 138 may be one or more computer-readable memories, such as a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a server, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CD, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a compact memory, a flash memory, a random access memory, a read-only memory, an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory, and / or any suitable memory, that are integrated with the ultrasound system 100 and / or communicatively coupled (e.g., via a network) to the ultrasound system 100. The archive 138 may include, for example, a database, a library, a collection of information, or other memory that is accessed by and / or associated with the signal processor 132. For example, the archive 138 may be capable of storing data temporarily or permanently. The archive 138 may be capable of storing medical image data, data generated by the signal processor 132, and / or instructions readable by the signal processor 132, etc.

[0074] In various embodiments, the archive 138 stores ultrasound images 350, 360, 450, 460, 650, 660, 750, 760, 850, 860; rendered 3D / 4D volumes; instructions for acquiring ultrasound images 350, 360, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 650, 660, 750, 760, 850, 860; instructions for obtaining a first planar representation and a second planar representation and / or a first planar volume representation and a second planar volume representation; Instructions for two-plane volume representation 330, 332, 340, 342, 430, 432, 440, 442, 630, 632, 640, 642, 644, 730, 732, 740, 742, 830, 832, 840, 842, 870, 872, 930, 940, 970; instructions for determining centerline 312, 412, 612, 712, 812; instructions for calculating displacement, rotation and / or probe motion parameters 313, 413 , 613, 615, 619, 621, 713, 715, 813, 814, 815, 816, 819, 1040; instructions for automatically detecting displacement, rotation and / or probe motion parameters 313, 413, 613, 615, 619, 621, 713, 715, 813, 814, 815, 816, 819, 1040 in an ultrasound image 350, 360, 450, 460, 650, 660, 750, 760, 850, 860 9, 1040; instructions for sequentially positioning ultrasound images using displacement, rotation and / or probe motion parameters 313, 413, 613, 615, 619, 621, 713, 715, 813, 814, 815, 816, 819, 1040; and instructions for causing the display system 134 to present ultrasound images 350, 360, 450, 460, 650, 660, 750, 760, 850, 860 and / or generated ultrasound volumes.

[0075] The components of the ultrasound system 100 may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, etc. The various components of the ultrasound system 100 may be communicatively connected. The components of the ultrasound system 100 may be implemented separately and / or integrated in various forms. For example, the display system 134 and the user input device 130 may be integrated into a touch screen display.

[0076] Still see Figure 1, the training system 200 may include a training engine 210 and a training database 220. The training engine 210 may include suitable logic components, circuit systems, interfaces and / or code, which logic components, circuit systems, interfaces and / or codes may be capable of operating to train neurons of a deep neural network (e.g., an artificial intelligence model) inferred (i.e., deployed) by the image acquisition processor 140, the displacement processor 150 and / or the positioning processor 160. For example, the artificial intelligence model inferred by the displacement processor 150 may be trained to automatically identify motion parameters from a bi-plane ultrasound image and / or volume using a database 220 of classified ultrasound images of anatomical structures. For another example, the artificial intelligence model inferred by the displacement processor 150 and / or the positioning processor 160 may be trained to automatically identify motion parameters, displacements, rotations, etc. in an ultrasound image using a database 220 of classified ultrasound images and / or motion parameters.

[0077] In various embodiments, the database 220 of training images may be a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) or any suitable data storage medium. In certain embodiments, the training engine 210 and / or the training image database 220 may be a remote system communicatively coupled to the ultrasound system 100 via a wired or wireless connection, such as Figure 1 Additionally and / or alternatively, components or all of the training system 200 may be integrated with the ultrasound system 100 in various forms. In some examples, the training image database 220 may be integrated with the archive 138, or vice versa.

[0078] Fig.10 1 is a flow chart 1100 illustrating exemplary steps 1102 to 1116 that may be used to obtain an ultrasound volume from a dual-plane ultrasound image according to various embodiments. Certain embodiments may omit one or more steps, and / or perform the steps in a different order than listed, and / or combine certain steps discussed below. For example, some steps may not be performed in certain embodiments. For another example, certain steps may be performed in a different time order than listed below, including simultaneously.

[0079] At step 1102, the signal processors 132, 140 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to acquire a bi-plane ultrasound image first ultrasound image plane 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 700, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715 4. A first displacement 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, a second displacement 615, 621, 715 and / or a rotation 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 of 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970. For example, the image acquisition processor may be configured to acquire a series of ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 using the ultrasound probe 104 that moves across the anatomy. The acquired bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 may be provided to the displacement processor 150 and / or stored at the archive 138 and / or any suitable computer readable medium.

[0080] At step 1104, the signal processors 132, 140 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to acquire bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560. For example, the image acquisition processor may be configured to acquire a series of ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560 using the ultrasound probe 104 that moves across the anatomy. The acquired bi-plane ultrasound images 330 , 332 , 340 , 342 , 350 , 360 , 430 , 432 , 440 , 442 , 450 , 460 may be provided to the displacement processor 150 and / or stored at the archive 138 and / or any suitable computer readable medium.

[0081] At step 1106, the signal processor 132, 150 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to calculate one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 in a first direction of the bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560 during acquisition. For example, the displacement processor 150 may be configured to calculate the displacements 313, 413 in the first direction of the ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560. The displacement 313 , 413 in the first direction may be stored by the displacement processor 150 in the archive 138 or other suitable computer-readable medium and / or provided to the positioning processor 160 .

[0082] At step 1108, the signal processor 132, 150 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to determine whether to calculate the second displacement 615, 621, 715 in the second direction. In some embodiments, the displacement processor 150 is configured with instructions indicating whether the second displacement 615, 621, 715 should be calculated. Additionally and / or alternatively, the ultrasound operator may provide user input via the user input device 130 and / or the touch screen display 130, 134 indicating that the second displacement 615, 621, 715 should be calculated. If the second displacement 615, 621, 715 is not calculated, the signal processor 132 proceeds to step 1112.

[0083] At step 1110, the signal processor 132, 150 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to calculate one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 in the second direction during acquisition. For example, the displacement processor 150 may calculate one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 in the ultrasound images 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760. The second displacements 615, 621, 715 in the second direction may be stored by the displacement processor 150 in the archive 138 or other suitable computer-readable medium and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0084] At step 1112, the signal processor 132, 150 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to determine whether to calculate the rotation 813, 814, 815, 816, 819. In some embodiments, the displacement processor 150 is configured with instructions indicating whether the rotation 814, 815, 816, 819 should be calculated. Additionally and / or alternatively, the ultrasound operator may provide user input via the user input device 130 and / or the touch screen display 130, 134 indicating that the rotation 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 should be calculated. If the rotation 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 is not to be calculated, the signal processor 132 proceeds to step 1116.

[0085] At step 1114, the signal processor 132, 150 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to calculate one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 during the acquisition. For example, the displacement processor 150 may calculate one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 in the ultrasound images 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 870, 872. The rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 may be stored by the displacement processor 150 in an archive 138 or other suitable computer-readable medium and / or provided to the positioning processor 160.

[0086] At step 1116, the signal processor 132, 160 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to sequentially position 510 a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 based on one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 and / or one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819.

[0087] At step 1118 , the signal processor 132 , 160 of the ultrasound system 100 may be configured to generate an ultrasound volume 520 by combining second ultrasound image planes 340 , 342 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 640 , 642 , 644 , 840 , 842 or second ultrasound image volumes 440 , 442 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 740 , 742 , 870 , 872 , 940 .

[0088] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method 1100 and system 100 for acquiring an ultrasound volume, the method comprising acquiring, by at least one processor 132, 140, sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970, the sequence of biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 6 42, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 includes a first ultrasound image plane 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930 or a first ultrasound image volume 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930 along a first plane. 32, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930, 970 and a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction and the second plane corresponding to the second direction.

[0089] The method 1100 may include calculating, by at least one processor 132, 150, one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 of sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 in a first direction during acquisition. The method 1100 may include sequentially positioning 510, by at least one processor 132, 160, a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940, wherein the second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 The acoustic image plane 340 , 342 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 640 , 642 , 644 , 840 , 842 or the second ultrasound image volume 440 , 442 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 740 , 742 , 870 , 872 , 940 is positioned 510 according to one or more first displacements 313 , 413 , 613 , 619 , 713 , 813 . The method 1100 includes generating, by at least one processor 132 , 160 , an ultrasound volume by combining 520 second ultrasound image planes 340 , 342 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 640 , 642 , 644 , 840 , 842 or second ultrasound image volumes 440 , 442 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 740 , 742 , 870 , 872 , 940 .

[0090] In an exemplary embodiment, method 1100 includes calculating, by at least one processor 132, 150, one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 along a second direction during acquisition, wherein the second direction is angled with the first direction, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned 510 by at least one processor 132, 160 based on the one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 and the one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715.

[0091] In an exemplary embodiment, method 1100 includes calculating, by at least one processor 132, 150, one or more rotations 814, 815, 816, 819 during acquisition, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned by at least one processor 132, 160 based on one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 and one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819.

[0092] In an exemplary embodiment, method 1100 includes calculating, by at least one processor 132, 150, one or more third displacements of one or more additional planes during acquisition, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned by at least one processor 132, 160 based on one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 and one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819.

[0093] In an exemplary embodiment, the method 1100 includes generating an ultrasound volume, the generating including combining 510 a subset of the second ultrasound image planes 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a subset of the second ultrasound image volumes 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940. In an exemplary embodiment, the method 1100 includes obtaining, via the artificial intelligence model 1000, one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813.

[0094] In an exemplary embodiment, the calculation of the one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 by the at least one processor 132, 150 is based on sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860 , 930, 940, 970 or the normalized cross-correlation between each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image or each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image volume 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970.

[0095] Various embodiments provide an ultrasound system 100 for acquiring an ultrasound volume 570, the ultrasound system comprising: an ultrasound probe 104 configured to acquire sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930 , 940, 970; and at least one processor configured to acquire sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 using the ultrasound probe 104 in a first direction, The sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 include a first ultrasound image plane 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730 , 732, 830, 832, 930 or a first ultrasound image volume 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930, 970 and a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction, and the second plane corresponding to the second direction.

[0096] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040, 1050, 1060, 1070, 1080, 1090, 110 42, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 in a first direction; sequentially positioning 510 a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 4 40, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940, wherein the second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or the second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is based on one or more and generating an ultrasound volume 570 by combining 510 second ultrasound image planes 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or second ultrasound image volumes 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940.

[0097] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 along a second direction during acquisition, wherein the second direction is angled with the first direction, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned based on the one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 and the one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 during acquisition, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or the second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned based on one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 and one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819.

[0098] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more third shifts of one or more additional planes during acquisition, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned by at least one processor 132, 160 based on one or more first shifts 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second shifts 615, 621, 715 and one or more third shifts. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 160 may be configured to generate an ultrasound volume 570 by combining a subset 522, which is a subset of the second ultrasound image planes 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a subset of the second ultrasound image volumes 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940.

[0099] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to generate a sequential biplane ultrasound image based on each of the sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970, or a sequential biplane ultrasound image. The first displacement 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 is calculated one or more times based on the normalized cross-correlation between each sequential biplane ultrasound image volume in the volumes 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970.

[0100] Various embodiments provide an ultrasound system 100 for acquiring an ultrasound volume 570, the ultrasound system comprising: an ultrasound probe 104 configured to acquire sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000, 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040, 1050, 1060, 1070, 1080, 1090, 1100, 1110 40, 970; and at least one processor 132, 140, the at least one processor configured to acquire sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970; 70, the sequential bi-plane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 include a first ultrasound image plane 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 along a first plane. 0, 732, 830, 832, 930 or a first ultrasound image volume 330, 332, 430, 432, 630, 632, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930, 970 and a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 along a second plane, the first plane corresponds to the first direction, and the second plane corresponds to the second direction.

[0101] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 613, 619, 713, 713, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 of sequential biplane ultrasound images 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 in a first direction during acquisition. And calculating one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715 along a second direction during acquisition, wherein the second direction is at an angle to the first direction; positioning a second ultrasound image plane or a second ultrasound image volume in sequence, wherein the second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 are positioned according to one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 and one or more second displacements 615, 621, 715. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132 , 160 may be configured to generate an ultrasound volume 570 by combining 510 second ultrasound image planes 340 , 342 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 640 , 642 , 644 , 840 , 842 or second ultrasound image volumes 440 , 442 , 520 , 540 , 550 , 560 , 740 , 742 , 870 , 872 , 940 .

[0102] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819 during acquisition, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or the second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned based on one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second displacements and one or more rotations 813, 814, 815, 816, 819. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more third shifts of one or more additional planes during acquisition, and wherein a second ultrasound image plane 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a second ultrasound image volume 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940 is positioned 510 by at least one processor 132, 160 based on one or more first shifts 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813, one or more second shifts 615, 621, 715 and one or more third shifts.

[0103] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 160 may be configured to generate an ultrasound volume 570 by combining a subset 522, which is a subset of the second ultrasound image planes 340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842 or a subset of the second ultrasound image volumes 440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to generate a sequential biplane ultrasound image plane based on each of the sequential biplane ultrasound image planes 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970, or a sequential biplane ultrasound image plane. The normalized cross-correlation between each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image volume in the image volumes 330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970 is used to calculate one or more first shifts 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813.

[0104] In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 150 may be configured to calculate one or more first displacements 313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813 via the artificial intelligence model 1000. In a representative embodiment, at least one processor 132, 160 may be configured to generate a three-dimensional volume 570.

[0105] As used herein, the term "circuitry" refers to physical electronic components (i.e., hardware) and any software and / or firmware ("code") that can configure hardware, is executed by hardware, and / or is otherwise associated with hardware. For example, as used herein, when executing one or more first codes, a specific processor and memory may include a first "circuit", and when executing one or more second codes, a specific processor and memory may include a second "circuit". As used herein, "and / or" represents any one or more of the items in the list connected by "and / or". For example, "x and / or y" represents any element in the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, "x, y and / or z" represents any element in the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As used herein, the term "exemplary" means used as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As used herein, the terms "for example" and "such as" lead to a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As used herein, a circuit system is “capable of operating” and / or “configured to” perform a function whenever the circuit system includes the necessary hardware and code (if necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether execution of the function is disabled or not enabled by some user-configurable setting.

[0106] Other embodiments may provide a computer-readable device and / or a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and / or a machine-readable device and / or a non-transitory machine-readable medium, on which are stored machine codes and / or a computer program having at least one code segment that can be executed by a machine and / or a computer, thereby causing the machine and / or the computer to perform the steps for acquiring a target ultrasound image having a target view of one or more anatomical structures as described herein.

[0107] Therefore, the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present disclosure may be implemented in a centralized manner in at least one computer system, or in a distributed manner, where different elements are distributed across several interconnected computer systems. Any type of computer system or other device suitable for executing the methods described herein is suitable.

[0108] The various embodiments may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein and which, when loaded into a computer system, is capable of carrying out these methods. A computer program herein refers to any expression of a set of instructions in any language, code or notation, which is intended to cause a system with information processing capabilities to perform specific functions directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion into another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.

[0109] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt specific circumstances or materials to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method (1100) for acquiring an ultrasound volume, the method comprising: Acquiring (1104) sequential bi-plane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 734, 730, 732, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 732, 740 ...50, 732,740,742,750,760,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970), the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330,332,340,342,350,360,430,432,440,442,450,460,520,540,550,560,630,632,634,640,642,644,650,6 60,730,732,740,742,750,760,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970) includes a first ultrasound image plane (330,332,430,432,630,632,634,730,732,830,832,930) or a first ultrasound image volume (330,332,430,432,630,632, 634, 730, 732, 830, 832, 930, 970) and a second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or a second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction and the second plane corresponding to the second direction; calculating (1106), by the at least one processor (132, 150), one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) of the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970) in the first direction during the acquisition; sequentially positioning (1116), by the at least one processor (132, 160), the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940), wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813); and The ultrasound volume is generated (1118) by the at least one processor (132, 160) by combining the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: One or more second displacements (615, 621, 715) along the second direction during the acquisition are calculated (1110) by the at least one processor, wherein the second direction is angled with the first direction, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned by the at least one processor (132, 160) based on the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) and the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715).

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: One or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819) during the acquisition are calculated (1114) by the at least one processor (132, 150), and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 520, 540, 550, 560, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned by the at least one processor (132, 160) based on the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813), the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715) and the one or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819).

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: One or more third shifts of one or more additional planes during the acquisition are calculated by the at least one processor (132, 150), and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned by the at least one processor (132, 160) based on the one or more first shifts (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813), the one or more second shifts (615, 621, 715) and the one or more third shifts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the ultrasound volume comprises combining a subset (522), the subset being a subset of the second ultrasound image planes (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or a subset of the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) are obtained via an artificial intelligence model (1000).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating (1106) of the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) is based on the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860 The normalized cross-correlation between each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image in each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image in (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 540, 550, 560, 570, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970).

8. An ultrasound system (100) for acquiring an ultrasound volume, the ultrasound system comprising: an ultrasound probe (104) configured to acquire sequential bi-plane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970); At least one processor (132, 140, 150, 160), the at least one processor configured to: The sequential bi-plane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000 60,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970), the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330,332,340,342,350,360,430,432,440,442,450,460,520,540,550,560,630,632,634,640,642,644,650,660,730,732,7 40,742,750,760,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970) includes a first ultrasound image plane (330,332,430,432,630,632,634,730,732,830,832,930) or a first ultrasound image volume (330,332,430,432,630,632,634,730,732,830,832,930) along a first plane 0,732,830,832,930,970) and a second ultrasound image plane (340,342,520,540,550,560,640,642,644,840,842) or a second ultrasound image volume (440,442,570,740,742,870,872,940) along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction and the second plane corresponding to the second direction; calculating (1106) one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) of the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970) in the first direction during the acquisition; sequentially positioning (1116) the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940), wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) Positioning is performed according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813); and The ultrasound volume is generated (1118) by combining the second ultrasound image planes (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volumes (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

9. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor (132, 150) is further configured to calculate (1110) one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715) along the second direction during the acquisition, wherein the second direction is at an angle to the first direction, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) and the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715).

10. The ultrasound system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor (132, 150) is further configured to calculate (1114) one or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819) during the acquisition, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813), the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715), and the one or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819).

11. The ultrasound system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor (132, 150) is further configured to calculate one or more third shifts of one or more additional planes during the acquisition, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned based on the one or more first shifts (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813), the one or more second shifts (615, 621, 715), and the one or more third shifts.

12. The ultrasound system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor (132, 160) is configured to generate (1118) the ultrasound volume by combining a subset (522), the subset being a subset of the second ultrasound image planes (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or a subset of the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

13. The ultrasound system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor (132, 150) is configured to generate a plurality of sequential biplane ultrasound images based on the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 75 The one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) are calculated (1114) based on a normalized cross-correlation between each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image in each sequential bi-plane ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

14. An ultrasound system for acquiring an ultrasound volume, the ultrasound system comprising: an ultrasound probe configured to acquire sequential bi-plane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970); At least one processor (132, 140, 150, 160), the at least one processor configured to: The sequential bi-plane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, 1000 60,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970), the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330,332,340,342,350,360,430,432,440,442,450,460,520,540,550,560,630,632,634,640,642,644,650,660,730,732,7 40,742,750,760,830,832,840,842,850,860,930,940,970) includes a first ultrasound image plane (330,332,430,432,630,632,634,730,732,830,832,930) or a first ultrasound image volume (330,332,430,432,630,632,634,730,732,830,832,930) along a first plane 0,732,830,832,930,970) and a second ultrasound image plane (340,342,520,540,550,560,640,642,644,840,842) or a second ultrasound image volume (440,442,570,740,742,870,872,940) along a second plane, the first plane corresponding to the first direction and the second plane corresponding to the second direction; calculating (1106) one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) of the sequential biplane ultrasound images (330, 332, 340, 342, 350, 360, 430, 432, 440, 442, 450, 460, 520, 540, 550, 560, 630, 632, 634, 640, 642, 644, 650, 660, 730, 732, 740, 742, 750, 760, 830, 832, 840, 842, 850, 860, 930, 940, 970) in the first direction during the acquisition and calculating one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715) along the second direction during the acquisition, wherein the second direction is at an angle to the first direction; sequentially positioning (1116) the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940), wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813) and the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715); and The ultrasound volume is generated (1118) by combining the second ultrasound image planes (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volumes (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940).

15. The ultrasound system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor (132, 150) is further configured to calculate (1114) one or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819) during the acquisition, and wherein the second ultrasound image plane (340, 342, 520, 540, 550, 560, 640, 642, 644, 840, 842) or the second ultrasound image volume (440, 442, 570, 740, 742, 870, 872, 940) is positioned according to the one or more first displacements (313, 413, 613, 619, 713, 813), the one or more second displacements (615, 621, 715), and the one or more rotations (814, 815, 816, 819).

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