Cropping volumetric images of regions of interest from three-dimensional ultrasound images.

Abstract

The system includes a processor and a display. The processor is configured to (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of a patient's organ, (ii) present at least first and second two-dimensional (2D) slices selected in the first 3D US image, (iii) receive first and second 2D contours including a region of interest (ROI) in the volume of the organ selected in the first and second 2D slices, respectively, and (iv) generate a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first and second 2D contours. The display is configured to present the second 3D US image to a user.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

[0003] The present disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a catheter-based ultrasound (US) imaging and tissue ablation system, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a first three-dimensional (3D) US image of cardiac tissue and a selected two-dimensional (2D) slice in the first 3D US image, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2B] 2B is a schematic, depiction diagram of a selected 2D slice of FIG. 2A above presented to a user, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 3A] 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of contours generated in each of the selected 2D slices to indicate regions of interest (ROIs) within cardiac tissue, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3B] 3B is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a second 3D US image that is a sub-volume of the first 3D US image and includes an ROI derived from the contour selected in the 2D slice of FIG. 3A above, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4]1 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for cropping a volumetric image of a region of interest (ROI) within the heart from a 3D US image, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] overview Catheters with imaging capabilities, such as ultrasound (US) imaging, are used to image tissues and cavities within a patient's organs, such as the patient's heart. For example, catheter-based four-dimensional (4D) intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a unique imaging modality capable of providing high-resolution, real-time visualization of cardiac structures within the heart. The term 4D refers to the acquisition of three-dimensional images over time, made possible by continuous monitoring of the catheter's position. Such technology provides users with early detection of anatomical problems within the heart and complications that arise during and after therapeutic procedures performed on the heart or another organ in question.

[0006] Although 4D visualization typically generates multiple pyramidal 3D images, in some cases, the US images cannot provide the user with sufficient and clean information regarding the ROI within the patient's heart. More specifically, the pyramidal 3D images typically include a volume larger than the target volume and, therefore, may obstruct and / or obscure certain anatomical features of the target. Furthermore, due to the 3D nature of the cardiac anatomy, it is difficult to crop one or more 3D images from the 4D visualization that contain only useful and necessary information.

[0007] The embodiments of the present disclosure described below provide techniques for cropping a volume of interest from a 4D ICE visualization of the heart.

[0008] In some embodiments, a catheter-based ultrasound imaging and tissue ablation system comprises a catheter, a processor, and a display device, also referred to herein as a display for brevity.

[0009] In some embodiments, the catheter includes an ultrasound catheter (e.g., a 4D ICE catheter) with a distal tip having an ultrasound transducer configured to apply US waves to tissue of the heart (e.g., wall) and the distal tip is configured to generate one or more US signals indicative of the shape and morphology of the tissue of interest based on the US waves returned (e.g., reflected) from the tissue of interest.

[0010] In some embodiments, the catheter comprises a position sensor coupled to the distal tip and configured to generate a position signal indicative of the position and orientation of the distal tip within the patient's heart. Components of the catheter are described in more detail in FIG. 1 below.

[0011] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to receive (e.g., from a US catheter) a first 3D US image of a volume of a patient's heart (or any other organ) and present to a user at least first and second selected two-dimensional (2D) slices in the first 3D US image.

[0012] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to receive or generate first and second 2D contours including a region of interest (ROI) within the volume of the organ, the first and second 2D contours being selected within the first and second 2D slices, respectively. The selected contours may be selected manually, for example, by a physician or any other user of the system, or automatically by the processor. For example, in the 2D slice, a user may select a rectangle that encloses the region of interest, and the processor is configured to apply an auto-contouring algorithm configured to identify an appropriate contour based on the location of the rectangle selected by the user.

[0013] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to generate a second 3D US image of the ROI, which is a sub-volume of the first 3D US image, based on the first and second 2D contours. In other words, based on the 2D contours, the processor is configured to crop the second 3D US image, which primarily includes the volume of interest within the heart, from the first 3D US image received from the US catheter.

[0014] In some embodiments, the display is configured to present to the user a second 3D US image comprising at least the volume of interest.

[0015] The disclosed techniques improve the 3D visualization of tissues and ROIs within a patient's organ, thereby improving the quality of medical procedures performed on the organ in question using the 3D visualization.

[0016] System Description FIG. 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of a catheter-based ultrasound imaging and tissue ablation system 10, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] In some embodiments, system 10 may include multiple catheters that are percutaneously inserted by physician 24 through the patient's vascular system into the cavities or vasculature of heart 12. Typically, a delivery sheath catheter is inserted into the chamber of interest near the desired location of heart 12. One or more catheters may then be inserted into the delivery sheath catheter to reach the desired location within heart 12. The multiple catheters may include catheters dedicated to sensing intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals, catheters dedicated to ablation, catheters adapted to perform both sensing and ablation, and catheters configured to perform imaging of tissue (e.g., tissue 33) of heart 12.

[0018] Reference is now made to inset 17, which shows a cross-sectional view of catheter 14 and heart 12. In some embodiments, physician 24 may position distal tip 28 of catheter 14 adjacent to or in contact with the heart wall to perform diagnosis (e.g., imaging and / or sensing) and / or therapy (e.g., tissue ablation) at a target (e.g., ablation) site within heart 12. Additionally or alternatively, for ablation, physician 24 similarly positions the distal end of the ablation catheter in contact with the target site for ablation of the tissue intended to be ablated. In this example shown in inset 17, distal tip 28 is positioned in front of tissue 33 of heart 12.

[0019] Reference is now made to inset 45, which illustrates distal tip 28. In some embodiments, distal tip 28 comprises a four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound (US) catheter with distal tip 28 having ultrasound transducers 53 arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array 42 and configured to apply US waves to tissue 33 (and / or any other region of heart 12).

[0020] In this embodiment, the 2D array 42 includes approximately 32 x 64 US transducers 53 (or any other suitable number of US transducers 53 arranged in any suitable configuration) and is configured to generate US-based images of at least tissue 33 located on the inner wall of the heart 12.

[0021] In some embodiments, the distal tip 28 comprises a position sensor 44 embedded in or near the distal tip 28 for tracking the position and orientation of the distal tip 28 in the coordinate system of the system 10. More specifically, the position sensor 44 is configured to output a position signal indicative of the position and orientation of the 2D array 42 within the heart 12. Based on the position signal, the processor 77 of the system 10 is configured to display the position and orientation of the distal tip 28 on an anatomical map 20 of the heart 12, as described in more detail below. Optionally and preferably, the position sensor 44 comprises a magnetic-based position sensor including three magnetic coils for sensing three-dimensional (3D) position and orientation. The position tracking components of the system 10 are described in more detail below.

[0022] In some embodiments, the distal tip 28 may also be used to perform the aforementioned diagnostic and / or therapeutic procedures, such as, for example, electrical sensing and / or ablation of tissue 33 within the heart 12, using the tip electrode 46. In this embodiment, the tip electrode 46 may comprise a sensing electrode or an ablation electrode.

[0023] In other embodiments, system 10 may include separate catheters (not shown) inserted into heart 12, each having one or preferably multiple electrodes optionally distributed along its distal tip. The electrodes are configured to sense IEGM and / or electrocardiogram (ECG) signals within tissue 33 of heart 12.

[0024] Referring again to the overall view of Figure 1, in some embodiments, the magnetic-based position sensor 44 may operate in conjunction with a location pad 25 that includes multiple (e.g., three) magnetic coils 32 configured to generate multiple (e.g., three) magnetic fields within a predetermined workspace. The real-time position of the distal tip 28 of the catheter 14 may be tracked based on the magnetic fields generated by the location pad 25 and sensed by the magnetic-based position sensor 44. Details of magnetic-based position sensing techniques are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,539,199, 5,443,489, 5,558,091, 6,172,499, 6,239,724, 6,332,089, 6,484,118, 6,618,612, 6,690,963, 6,788,967, and 6,892,091.

[0025] In some embodiments, system 10 includes one or more electrode patches 38 that are placed on patient 23 in skin contact to establish a position reference for location pad 25 and for impedance-based tracking of electrodes (not shown). For impedance-based tracking, current is directed to electrode 46 and / or other electrodes (not shown) of catheter 14 and sensed at electrode skin patch 38 so that the location of each electrode (e.g., electrode 46) can be triangulated via electrode patch 38. This technique is also referred to herein as advanced current localization (ACL), and details of impedance-based position tracking techniques are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,536,218, 7,756,576, 7,848,787, 7,869,865, and 8,456,182.

[0026] In some embodiments, magnetic-based position sensing and ACLs may be applied simultaneously to improve position sensing, for example, of one or more electrodes coupled to flexible arms or splines on the shaft of a rigid catheter or on the distal tip of another type of catheter, such as a basket catheter 14 and a PentaRay® or OPTRELL® catheter available from Biosense Webster, Inc. (31A Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618).

[0027] In some embodiments, recorder 11 displays electrograms 21 captured by body surface ECG electrodes 18 and intracardiac electrograms (IEGMs), for example, captured by electrodes 46 of catheter 14. Recorder 11 may include pacing capability for pacing the cardiac rhythm and / or may be electrically connected to a stand-alone pacer.

[0028] In some embodiments, system 10 may include an ablation energy generator 50 adapted to deliver ablation energy to one or more electrodes at the distal tip of a catheter configured for ablation. The energy generated by ablation energy generator 50 may include, but is not limited to, a pulse train of radiofrequency (RF) energy or pulsed-field ablation (PFA) energy, including unipolar or bipolar high-voltage direct current pulses such as may be used to effect irreversible electroporation (IRE), or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, electrode 46 may include an ablation electrode positioned at distal tip 28 and configured to apply a pulse train of RF energy and / or PFA energy to tissue in the wall of heart 12.

[0029] In some embodiments, the patient interface unit (PIU) 30 is an interface configured to establish electrical communication between the catheter, the electrophysiology equipment, the power source, and the workstation 55 to control the operation of the system 10.

[0030] The electrophysiology equipment of system 10 may include, for example, multiple catheters, location pads 25, body surface ECG electrodes 18, electrode patches 38, ablation energy generator 50, and recorder 11. Optionally and preferably, PIU 30 additionally includes processing capabilities for implementing real-time calculations of catheter positions and performing ECG calculations.

[0031] In one embodiment, one or more electrodes (e.g., electrode 46) are configured to receive current from PIU 30, and impedance is measured between at least one of the electrodes (e.g., electrode 46) and (i) a respective electrode patch 38, or (ii) a respective body surface ECG electrode 18.

[0032] In some embodiments, workstation 55 includes a memory device, a processor 77 with suitable random access memory or memory device having appropriate operating software stored thereon, an interface 56 configured to exchange data signals (e.g., between processor 77 and another entity of system 10), and user interface capabilities. In one embodiment, processor 77 is configured to generate signals indicative of electrophysiological (EP) characteristics of heart 12, such as (i) a first signal indicative of electrical potentials measured on the tissue of interest with one or more electrodes, such as electrode 46 or a sensing electrode of a sensing catheter (not shown) placed in contact therewith, and (ii) a second signal indicative of the measured impedance described above. The workstation 55 may optionally provide multiple functions, including: (1) modeling the endocardial anatomical structure in three dimensions (3D) and rendering a model or anatomical map 20 for display on a display device 27 (also referred to herein as a display for simplicity); (2) displaying on the display device 27 an activation sequence (or other data) compiled from recorded electrograms 21 in a representative visual representation or image superimposed on the rendered anatomical map 20; (3) displaying the real-time position and orientation of multiple catheters within the cardiac chambers; and (4) displaying on the display device 27 an anatomical image (e.g., an ultrasound image) of an area of ​​interest, such as a location where ablation energy is being applied or is intended to be applied.

[0033] Referring again to inset 45, in some embodiments, processor 77 is configured to control distal tip 28 of catheter 14 to (i) apply ultrasound (US) waves to tissue 33 and (ii) generate signals indicative of (a) the US waves returned from tissue 33 and (b) a position signal indicative of the position and orientation of distal tip 28 in the coordinate system of system 10.

[0034] One commercially available product embodying each element of system 10 is available as the CARTO™ 3 system, commercially available from Biosense Webster, Inc. (31A Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618).

[0035] FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of a first three-dimensional (3D) US image 40 of tissue of the heart 12 (e.g., tissue 33 shown in FIG. 1 above) and selected two-dimensional (2D) slices 47, 48, and 49 in the first 3D US image 40, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] In some embodiments, the 2D array 42 of the distal tip 28 applies US waves to cavities and tissues of interest within the heart 12 and receives returned waves from the tissues and / or cavities, as described above in FIG. 1. Based on the returned US waves, the processor 77 is configured to generate a 3D US image 40 (also referred to herein as a first 3D US image 40) that includes at least the volume of interest (shown and described in FIG. 3B below).

[0037] In some embodiments, the processor 77 is configured to select 2D slices 47-49 within the volume of the 3D US image 40. Alternatively, at least one of the 2D slices 47-49 may be manually selected by the physician 24. Typically, the physician 24 selects the relevant 2D slices based on any suitable clinical criteria.

[0038] FIG. 2B is a schematic, pictorial illustration of 2D slices 47-49 presented to physician 24 (or any other user of system 10), according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] 2B , processor 77 is configured to present 2D slices 47-49 side-by-side on display device 27 so that physician 24 can view anatomical features that may appear in two or more of 2D slices 47-49, as well as other anatomical features of heart 12. Processor 77 is further configured to present a first 3D US image 40 along with the presentation of 2D slices 47-49. Processor 77 is further configured to present a 3D US image 41 that includes only selected 2D slices, in this example, slices 47-49. In some embodiments, in response to a command from physician 24, processor 77 is configured to rotate one or both of 3D US images 40 and 41, and, optionally, rotate the corresponding orientation of the rotated 2D slices 47-49.

[0040] FIG. 3A is a schematic, pictorial illustration of contours 57, 58, and 59 generated in 2D slices 47, 48, and 49, respectively, indicating regions of interest (ROI) in heart 12, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] In some embodiments, processor 77 is configured to automatically generate at least one of contours 57-59 and present them across 2D slices 47-49, respectively. For example, in two or more of 2D slices 47-49, physician 24 may select a rectangle surrounding an ROI, and processor 77 is configured to apply a suitable image processing algorithm, such as, but not limited to, an auto-contouring algorithm, configured to identify an appropriate contour, such as contours 57-59, based on the location of the rectangle selected by physician 24. In other embodiments, processor 77 may apply any other suitable algorithm for identifying contours 57-59 within 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0042] In other embodiments, at least one of the contours 57-59 may be generated by a user of the system 10. For example, the physician 24 may define one or more of the contours 57-59 by drawing the one or more of the contours 57-59 on one or more of the 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0043] It should be noted that in both exemplary embodiments, after definition / selection / generation of the contours 57-59, the processor 77 is configured to present the selected contours 57-59 on the display device 27 or any other display so that the physician can review the selected contours 57-59 on the 2D slices 47-49, respectively.

[0044] In some embodiments, the processor 77 is further configured to present the 3D US image 40 along with the 2D slices 47-49. For example, the orientation of the 3D US image 40 may correspond to all of the 2D slices 47-49.

[0045] FIG. 3B is a schematic depiction of a second 3D US image 60, which is a sub-volume of the first 3D US image 40 and includes a volumetric ROI 66 derived from contours 57-59 selected in the 2D slices 47-49 of FIG. 3A above, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] In some embodiments, the processor 77 is configured to display the ROI 66 of the 3D US image 60 (e.g., on the display device 27) as a sub-volume of the 3D US image 40. Note that the processor 77 is configured to generate the volumetric ROI 66 (or any other suitable volumetric ROI) using at least two contours of the respective 2D slices. For example, contours 57 and 58 of the 2D slices 47 and 48, respectively, may be used to generate another volumetric ROI.

[0047] In additional or alternative embodiments, processor 77 is configured to present only or most of ROI 66 in 3D US image 60, for example, without the entire volume of 3D US image 40. Furthermore, in response to instructions received from physician 24 (or any other user of system 10), processor 77 is configured to rotate 3D US image 60 so that physician 24 can view ROI 66 from various directions and orientations. For example, in 3D US image 62, processor 77 is configured to rotate 3D US image 60 in direction 63 to view the ROI from a first perspective, and in 3D US image 64, processor 77 is configured to rotate 3D US image 60 in direction 65 to view the ROI from a second perspective different from the first perspective.

[0048] In some embodiments, processor 77 is configured to present, in at least one of 3D US images 60, 62, and 64 of Figure 3B (displayed on display device 27), distal tip 28 and one or more markers indicating a selected 2D slice, such as slices 47-49 shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 3A above. The marker(s) may be presented as dashed lines as shown in Figure 3B, as solid lines, or using any other suitable presentation that may assist physician 24 in identifying the selected 2D slice and contour within a respective 3D US image, such as at least one of 3D US images 60, 62, and 64.

[0049] The embodiments of Figures 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B are shown by way of example, and in other embodiments, processor 77 may receive any other suitable 3D image (e.g., other than ultrasound-based) of heart 12 or any other suitable organ and apply the techniques described above (e.g., 2D slice and contour selection and subsequent generation of a 3D image having a volumetric ROI) to present a volumetric ROI to a user.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for cropping a volumetric image 60 of a ROI 66 within the heart 12 from a 3D US image 40, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] The method begins with a first 3D US image receiving step 100, in which the processor 77 receives a 3D US image 40 of a volume of the heart 12, as described in detail above in FIG. 2A. In other embodiments, instead of receiving a 3D US image 40, the processor 77 is configured to generate the 3D US image 40 based on signals received from the distal tip 28, the signals being indicative of US waves sensed by the 2D array 42, as described in detail above in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A.

[0052] In 2D slice presentation step 102, processor 77 automatically selects and presents two or more 2D slices, such as 2D slices 47, 48, and 49, in 3D US image 40, as described in detail above in Figures 2A and 2B. In some embodiments, physician 24 may confirm that the selected 2D slices are suitable, and in other embodiments, physician 24 may manually select one or more of the 2D slices to be presented, for example, on display device 27.

[0053] In contour generation step 104, processor 77 automatically selects two or more contours in two or more respective 2D slices. For example, processor 77 may automatically select contours 57, 58, and 59 in 2D slices 47, 48, and 49, respectively. In other embodiments, physician 24 may manually select at least one of contours 57, 58, and 59. In either case, processor 77 is configured to present contours 57-59 across 2D slices 47-49, respectively, as described in detail above in FIG. 3A. In other words, the 2D slices and contours may be selected automatically by processor 77, manually by a user (e.g., physician 24), or the selection may be performed by any suitable combination of both physician 24 and processor 77 (e.g., processor 77 may recommend and physician 24 may confirm the recommended selection).

[0054] In a second 3D US image generation step 106, which concludes the method, the processor 77 is configured to generate a second 3D US image 60 of the volumetric ROI 66 based on the selected 2D contours (e.g., contours 57-59) and present the second 3D US image 60 to the physician 24, for example, via the display device 27.

[0055] Although the embodiments described herein primarily address the use of ultrasound for visualization of cavities and tissues in a patient's heart, the methods and systems described herein may also be used in other applications, such as visualization of other cavities and / or tissues in any organ other than the heart. Additionally, the methods and systems described herein may also be used based on 3D images generated by other imaging and / or diagnostic systems having imaging modalities other than ultrasound, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [Example]

[0056] A system (10), comprising: a processor (77) configured to: (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image (40) of a volume of an organ (12) of a patient (23); (ii) present at least first and second two-dimensional (2D) slices (47, 48) selected in the first 3D US image; (iii) receive first and second 2D contours (57, 58) including a region of interest (ROI) (66) in the volume of the organ selected in the first and second 2D slices (47, 48), respectively; and (iv) generate a second 3D US image (60) of the ROI (66) based on the first and second 2D contours (57, 58); A system (10) including a display (27), the display (27) configured to present the second 3D US image (60) to a user. [Example]

[0057] The system of Example 1, wherein the processor is configured to (i) receive signals indicative of US waves returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generate the first 3D US image based on the received signals. [Example]

[0058] 3. The system of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first and second 2D slices from the first 3D US image. [Example]

[0059] 3. The system of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to receive a selection of at least one of the first and second 2D slices and present the selected 2D slice to the user. [Example]

[0060] 3. The system of any of Examples 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first and second contours. [Example]

[0061] 3. The system of any one of Examples 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to present at least one of the first and second 2D contours on at least one of the first and second 2D slices, respectively. [Example]

[0062] A system described in either Example 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the second 3D US image of the ROI and present the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display. [Example]

[0063] A system described in either Example 1 or 2, wherein the processor is configured to generate the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and the display is configured to present the second 3D US image to the user within at least the portion of the first 3D US image. [Example]

[0064] The system of any one of Examples 1 or 2, wherein the display is configured to present at least one marker on the second 3D US image indicating at least one of the 2D slices. [Example]

[0065] 3. The system of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the organ includes a heart, and the first and second 3D US images include at least one of a cavity and tissue of the heart. [Example]

[0066] 1. A method, comprising: receiving a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image (60) of a volume of an organ (12) of a patient (23); presenting at least first and second two-dimensional (2D) slices (47, 48) selected in the first 3D US image (40); receiving first and second 2D contours (57, 58) including a region of interest (ROI) (66) in the volume of the organ selected in the first and second 2D slices (47, 48), respectively; generating a second 3D US image (60) of the ROI (66) based on the first and second 2D contours (57, 58); and presenting the second 3D US image to a user.

[0067] It will be understood that the above-described embodiments are given by way of example, and that the present disclosure is not limited to what is particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present disclosure includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described above, as well as variations and modifications thereof not disclosed in the prior art that would occur to one skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Documents incorporated by reference into this patent application are to be considered an integral part of this application, provided that, to the extent that any term in these incorporated documents is defined in a manner that contradicts a definition expressly or implicitly made herein, only the definition herein shall be considered.

[0068] [Embodiment] (1) A system, the system comprising: a processor configured to: (i) receive a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of an organ of a patient; (ii) present at least first and second two-dimensional (2D) slices selected in the first 3D US image; (iii) receive first and second 2D contours selected in the first and second 2D slices, respectively, including a region of interest (ROI) in the volume of the organ; and (iv) generate a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first and second 2D contours; a display configured to present the second 3D US image to a user. (2) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to (i) receive signals indicative of US waves returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generate the first 3D US image based on the received signals. (3) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first and second 2D slices from the first 3D US image. (4) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive a selection of at least one of the first and second 2D slices and present the selected 2D slice to the user. (5) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select at least one of the first and second contours.

[0069] (6) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to present at least one of the first and second 2D contours on at least one of the first and second 2D slices, respectively. (7) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the second 3D US image of the ROI and present the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display. (8) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and the display is configured to present the second 3D US image within at least the portion of the first 3D US image to the user. (9) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the display is configured to present at least one marker on the second 3D US image indicating at least one of the 2D slices. (10) The system of embodiment 1, wherein the organ includes a heart and the first and second 3D US images include at least one of a cavity and tissue of the heart.

[0070] (11) A method, the method comprising: receiving a first three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) image of a volume of an organ of a patient; presenting at least first and second two-dimensional (2D) slices selected in the first 3D US image; receiving first and second 2D contours including a region of interest (ROI) in the volume of the organ selected in the first and second 2D slices, respectively; generating a second 3D US image of the ROI based on the first and second 2D contours; presenting the second 3D US image to a user. (12) The method of embodiment 11, wherein receiving the first 3D US image includes (i) receiving a signal indicative of a US wave returned from tissue of the organ, and (ii) generating the first 3D US image based on the received signal. (13) The method of embodiment 11, wherein presenting at least the first and second 2D slices includes automatically selecting at least one of the first and second 2D slices from the first 3D US image and presenting the one or more automatically selected 2D slices. (14) The method of embodiment 11, wherein presenting at least the first and second 2D slices includes receiving a selection of at least one of the first and second 2D slices and presenting the selected 2D slice to the user. (15) The method of embodiment 11, wherein receiving the first and second 2D contours includes automatically selecting at least one of the first and second contours.

[0071] (16) The method of embodiment 11, comprising presenting at least one of the first and second 2D contours on at least one of the first and second 2D slices, respectively. (17) The method of embodiment 11, comprising: rotating the second 3D US image of the ROI; and presenting the rotated second 3D US image to the user on the display. (18) The method of embodiment 11, wherein generating the second 3D US image includes generating the second 3D US image within at least a portion of the first 3D US image, and presenting the second 3D US image within at least the portion of the first 3D US image to the user. (19) The method of embodiment 11, further comprising presenting at least one marker on the second 3D US image that indicates at least one of the 2D slices. (20) The method of embodiment 11, wherein the organ includes a heart and the first and second 3D US images include at least one of a cavity and a tissue of the heart.

Claims

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to present at least one marker on the second 3D US image that indicates at least one of the 2D slices.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the organ includes a heart, and the first and second 3D US images include at least one of a cavity and tissue of the heart.

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

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

13. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting at least the first and second 2D slices comprises automatically selecting at least one of the first and second 2D slices from the first 3D US image and presenting the one or more automatically selected 2D slices.

14. 12. The method of claim 11 , wherein presenting at least the first and second 2D slices comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the first and second 2D slices and presenting the selected 2D slice to the user.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the first and second 2D contours comprises automatically selecting at least one of the first and second contours.

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

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

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

19. The method of claim 11 , comprising presenting at least one marker on the second 3D US image that indicates at least one of the 2D slices.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the organ includes a heart, and the first and second 3D US images include at least one of a cavity and tissue of the heart.

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