3D Ultrasonic Imaging Sub-sampling Interpolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical diagnostic ultrasound systems face challenges in achieving real-time 3D imaging of large fields of view, especially when imaging moving organs like the heart, due to the time required to scan volumetric regions, leading to blurred or distorted images.
Innovation Solution
The system employs sub-sampling with a low scanline density to acquire volume image data quickly, followed by interpolation or interleaving of image data to fill in unsampled areas, allowing for real-time 3D imaging of large fields of view without blurring or distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high scanline density is used to image volumetric regions, then image quality is improved, but acquisition time increases causing real-time imaging to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using low scanline density (sub-sampling) to acquire volume data quickly, accepting that not all spatial locations are directly scanned. The missing data is then reconstructed through interpolation, allowing real-time imaging at high frame rates while maintaining adequate image quality through computational completion of the partial sampling.
2Measurement precision
If long acquisition time is used to scan volumetric regions with sufficient scanline density, then image quality is improved, but motion artifacts increase causing blurred or distorted images
Solution Approach 1:
By using partial sampling with low scanline density, the acquisition time is dramatically reduced, freezing motion in moving organs like the heart. The partial data is then computationally completed through interpolation, maintaining both image quality and reliability by capturing the organ in a near-instantaneous snapshot.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary sub-sampling acquisition at high speed to capture the moving organ before motion causes blurring. The interpolation step then completes the image reconstruction, ensuring that the critical data capture phase is completed before motion artifacts can degrade image stability.
3Productivity
If low scanline density is used to reduce acquisition time, then real-time imaging is achieved, but spatial sampling adequacy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from purely spatial sampling in the physical domain to spatiotemporal sampling by introducing the time dimension. Multiple low-density spatial samples are taken at different time points and combined through interpolation, effectively using the time dimension to compensate for reduced spatial sampling density and achieve both high frame rate and adequate spatial resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
Interpolation algorithms serve as an intermediary process that takes the sparse sub-sampled data and computes the missing spatial information. This computational intermediary bridges the gap between low scanline density and adequate spatial sampling, allowing the system to achieve high frame rates while maintaining measurement precision through mathematical reconstruction.
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
This approach enables high-frame-rate, real-time 3D ultrasonic imaging of moving organs, providing smooth and undistorted images by interpolating or interleaving data to achieve the desired volumetric frame rate, effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic imaging has been used for many years to scan and display two-dimensional (2D) image planes of the body in real time
Implementation Method 2
the speed at which the ultrasound travels in the body, nominally 1580 meters/sec.
Data Source
AI summary
A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D display images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. In a preferred embodiment the determination of motion and the consequent decision to use interpolated or interleaved data for display is determined on a pixel-by pixel basis.