3D Elastic Image Construction via 2D Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are unable to construct and display 3-dimensional elastic images showing the hardness or softness of biological tissues, as the required calculations and memory capacity are excessive and impractical to achieve by extending techniques for constructing 2-dimensional tomographic images.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic probe, transmission and reception units, RF signal frame data storage, selection, elasticity calculation, and 3-dimensional image construction units, which select and process RF signal frame data to create 2-dimensional and subsequently 3-dimensional elastic image data, enabling the display of biological tissue hardness or softness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If techniques for constructing 3-dimensional tomographic images are extended to construct 3-dimensional elastic images, then 3-dimensional elastic image construction becomes possible, but the calculation amount and memory capacity required become excessively large and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 3-dimensional elastic image construction process into distinct stages: first constructing multiple 2-dimensional elastic images from RF signal frame data at different time points, then synthesizing these 2-D images into a final 3-D elastic image. This segmentation reduces the computational burden by breaking down the complex 3-D construction into manageable 2-D steps, avoiding the need to process all data simultaneously in a single complex operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary construction of 2-dimensional elastic images before synthesizing the 3-dimensional elastic image. By pre-processing the data to create intermediate 2-D elastic images from RF signal frames at different time points, the system prepares organized intermediate results that simplify the final 3-D synthesis step, reducing the overall computational complexity compared to direct 3-D construction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If 3-dimensional elastic image construction is attempted by direct extension of existing methods, then the function is achieved, but the required memory capacity becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes data in manageable segments by constructing 2-dimensional elastic images from specific RF signal frame data at different time points, rather than loading and processing all 3-D data simultaneously. This extraction approach allows the system to work with smaller data subsets at each step, significantly reducing the peak memory capacity required while still achieving the complete 3-D elastic image construction.
3Device complexity
If only 2-dimensional elastic images are constructed, then the calculation and memory requirements remain manageable, but the ability to show three-dimensional tissue hardness or softness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2-dimensional elastic image construction to 3-dimensional elastic image construction by synthesizing multiple 2-D elastic images (constructed from RF signal frames at different time points) into a unified 3-D elastic image. This dimensional escalation preserves the computational efficiency of 2-D processing while adding the third dimension to enable comprehensive visualization of tissue hardness or softness in three-dimensional space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the construction and display of 3-dimensional elastic images, effectively showing the hardness or softness of biological tissues, overcoming the limitations of previous technologies by efficiently processing and storing necessary data for accurate imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit/receive ultrasonic waves to/from an object to be examined by transducers
Implementation Method 2
a reception unit configured to receive the reflected echo signals from the object
Implementation Method 3
an elasticity information calculation unit configured to calculate strain or elasticity modulus based on the selected RF signal frame data
Implementation Method 4
an elastic image constructing unit configured to construct a 2-dimensional elastic image data based on the strain or elasticity modulus acquired by the elasticity information calculation unit
Implementation Method 5
a 3-dimensional elastic image constructing unit configured to construct a 3-dimensional elastic image from the elastic volume data created by the elasticity volume data creating unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that constructs and displays a 3-dimensional elastic image showing the hardness or softness of a biological tissue of an object to be examined, and a method of displaying an ultrasonic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by being provided with an elastic image constructing unit (24) that constructs 2-dimensional elastic image data on the basis of the strain or elasticity modulus acquired by the elasticity information calculating unit (23), an elastic volume data creating unit (26) that creates elastic volume data from plural sets of the 2-dimensional elastic image data, and 3-dimensional elastic image constructing unit (28) that constructs a 3-dimensional elastic image from the elastic volume data.