Colorized Ultrasound Surface Rendering for Functional Data Overlay
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound techniques struggle to provide clear visualization of both anatomical and functional ultrasound data, particularly in volumetric datasets, leading to obscuration of anatomical structures and functional flows, making it difficult for clinicians to accurately understand the relationship between the two.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generates a colorized surface rendering of anatomical surfaces using a processor to identify and display three-dimensional non-planar surfaces, where the colorization represents information from the functional ultrasound dataset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If volume-rendering is used to display both anatomical and functional ultrasound data, then comprehensive information is included, but foreground structures obscure background information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultrasound data into separate anatomical and functional components, rendering them as distinct overlay layers. The anatomical data forms the base layer while functional data (such as color flow Doppler) is rendered as a translucent overlay, allowing both to be visible simultaneously without mutual obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different rendering qualities to different spatial regions. Foreground structures are rendered with higher opacity while background structures maintain lower opacity, creating a depth-based transparency gradient that preserves visibility of obscured elements while maintaining foreground prominence.
2Loss of information
If one or more two-dimensional slices are generated to avoid obscuration, then background information remains visible, but data from multiple planes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional slice visualization to three-dimensional surface rendering with depth encoding. By rendering anatomical surfaces with depth cues (such as shading, contour lines, and transparency gradients), the system preserves complete anatomical structure information while maintaining visibility of background elements through strategic use of transparency and layering.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound imaging system and method for rendering volumetric ultrasound data. The method includes accessing, with a processor, an anatomical ultrasound dataset including a volume-of-interest. The method includes, accessing, with the processor, a functional ultrasound dataset including the volume-of-interest. The method includes identifying, with the processor, an anatomical surface from the anatomical ultrasound dataset, wherein the anatomical surface is a three-dimensional non-planar surface. The method includes generating, with the processor, a colorized surface rendering of the anatomical surface, wherein the colorized surface rendering is colorized to represent information from the functional ultrasound dataset. The method includes displaying the colorized surface rendering on a display device.