Ultrasonic Surface Imaging via Contour Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic diagnosis apparatuses face difficulties in visualizing the surface unevenness of organs like the liver, which is challenging due to the presence of amniotic fluid or air gaps, making it hard to obtain clear three-dimensional images using general ultrasonic waves.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus that includes an ultrasonic probe, an image data generating unit, a contour line extraction processing unit, and a surface image generating unit, which extracts contour lines from tomograms, generates smoothed curves based on depth changes, and creates a surface image expressing surface unevenness with brightness changes, allowing for the visualization of organ surfaces with reduced processing steps and data requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If general three-dimensional ultrasonic waves are used to image organ surfaces, then the imaging process is simple, but the surface unevenness cannot be visualized due to contact with peritoneum or air gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into two distinct stages: first acquiring conventional B-mode tomographic images, then separately extracting contour lines and generating surface images from these contours. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, achieving both imaging simplicity and surface visualization precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional B-mode images to three-dimensional surface visualization by extracting contour lines from the images and generating surface images that depict surface unevenness. This dimensional transformation enables visualization of surface topography without requiring complex three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning.
2Productivity
If conventional B-mode imaging is used, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but three-dimensional surface information cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by acquiring conventional B-mode tomographic images first, which serve as the foundation for subsequent surface image generation. By pre-acquiring the tomographic data, the system can later extract contour lines and generate surface images without requiring additional complex three-dimensional scanning, thus maintaining imaging speed while recovering lost three-dimensional surface information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the surface information by extracting contour lines from B-mode images and generating surface images that replicate surface unevenness. This copying process preserves three-dimensional surface information that would otherwise be lost in conventional two-dimensional imaging, while maintaining the simplicity and speed of B-mode acquisition.
3Measurement precision
If optical observation with endoscope is used to visualize liver surface, then surface unevenness can be observed, but the procedure requires anesthesia and insertion into abdominal region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical endoscopic system (requiring physical insertion and anesthesia) with an ultrasonic-based system that uses sound waves to visualize liver surface unevenness. By substituting mechanical optical observation with ultrasonic contour extraction and surface image generation, the system achieves the same diagnostic capability without the invasive procedure requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that includes contour line extraction and surface image generation units. These intermediary processing steps transform conventional B-mode images into surface visualizations, serving as a mediator between simple ultrasonic imaging and complex optical endoscopy, thereby achieving non-invasive surface observation.
4Measurement precision
If three-dimensional ultrasonic scanning is performed to obtain surface images, then surface unevenness can be visualized, but the processing steps and data requirements become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for surface visualization by extracting contour lines from B-mode images. This extraction process isolates the critical surface boundary information while discarding unnecessary internal tissue details, thereby reducing data complexity while maintaining surface visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the contour lines and surface boundaries rather than analyzing the entire three-dimensional volume. This partial processing approach achieves sufficient surface visualization without the computational burden of complete volume rendering, reducing both processing steps and data requirements.
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 visualization of organ surfaces, such as the liver, with improved reproducibility and reliability, providing new diagnosis information without the need for volume data or complex computation, and allows for concurrent image generation during scanning.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit which generates echo signals associated with a plurality of scan planes by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the ultrasonic probe
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit which generates echo signals associated with a plurality of scan planes by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the ultrasonic probe
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit which generates echo signals associated with scan planes by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the ultrasonic probe, an image data generating unit which generate tomogram data respectively corresponding to the scan planes based on the echo signals, a contour line extraction processing unit which extracts contour lines of a specific region from the plurality of tomograms, a contour line processing unit which generates curves respectively corresponding to the extracted contour lines, and a surface image generating unit which generates one-dimensional brightness trains on the curves from the tomograms and generates a surface image expressing the surface unevenness of the specific region with brightness changes by arraying the brightness trains in accordance with the positions of the corresponding scan planes.