Ultrasonic Volume Data Processing with Deformable Clipping Plane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-dimensional ultrasonic image processing techniques face challenges in effectively separating target tissues from non-target tissues, leading to hidden target tissues in the final image and the formation of undesirable striped patterns due to non-uniform ray paths and curved clipping planes.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic volume data processing device with a three-dimensional region-of-interest setting unit that allows for the deformation and inclination of the clipping plane, enabling independent and quick setting of its orientation and shape to match tissue gaps, and a special voxel calculation to inhibit striped pattern formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple cubic shape or simple plane is employed as the three-dimensional region of interest or clipping plane, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision and reliability of tissue separation deteriorate because it becomes difficult to sufficiently separate target tissue from non-target tissue with various shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The clipping plane is made dynamically adjustable in shape and orientation. The system allows the clipping plane to be deformed into various shapes (convex, concave, flat, slanted) and oriented at different angles to match the specific geometry of tissue gaps, enabling precise separation while maintaining ease of operation through automated or semi-automated setting procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the clipping plane including its shape parameters (convex/concave degree), orientation parameters (inclination angles in multiple directions), and position parameters. These parameter adjustments allow the clipping plane to adapt to different tissue geometries while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized adjustment mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If the clipping plane is deformed into convex or concave shapes to match tissue surfaces, then the precision of tissue separation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional deformation control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The clipping plane deformation is segmented into discrete controllable parameters representing different geometric features (convexity/concavity levels, inclination angles, curvature radii). This segmentation allows complex shapes to be constructed from simple parameter combinations, reducing control complexity while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
A single clipping plane structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it can be flattened, slanted, convexed, or concaved as needed. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each shape type, reducing overall device complexity while achieving precise tissue separation
3Reliability
If the entirety of the clipping plane is inclined to match the inclination of tissue gaps, then the reliability of tissue separation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional inclination control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The clipping plane is designed with asymmetric inclination capabilities, allowing different inclination angles in different directions (e.g., slanted in one direction, flat in another). This asymmetric design enables precise matching of inclined tissue gaps while using a unified control mechanism, improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity
4Manufacturing precision
If a curved clipping plane is used, then the precision of matching tissue surfaces is improved, but striped patterns are formed due to non-uniform ray paths in volume rendering
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts rendering parameters including sampling interval and ray path calculations based on the clipping plane's curvature parameters. By dynamically changing these rendering parameters in response to the clipping plane shape, the system maintains precise surface matching while compensating for the striped pattern effect through parameter optimization
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic volume data processing device which forms a three-dimensional image of a target tissue in a living body is provided. A range in which a rendering process is applied is limited by a three-dimensional region of interest (3D-ROI). The three-dimensional region of interest has a clipping plane as a rendering start surface. A shape of the clipping plane can be deformed into a convex shape or a concave shape by a user operation, and the clipping plane may be freely inclined in two-dimensional directions. With this configuration, for example, the clipping plane can be suitably positioned in a gap between a face of a fetus and a placenta. When the curved clipping plane is used, a striped pattern noise tends to be formed in the three-dimensional image. In order to resolve or reduce the striped pattern noise, a special voxel calculation is applied to a final voxel of each ray in the voxel calculation for each ray.