Ultrasonic Volume Rendering Noise Suppression via Local Opacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic image processing technologies face challenges in reducing the influence of noise in three-dimensional images generated from ultrasound volume data, leading to noise artifacts in the final rendered images.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic image processing device and program that calculate change amount information between signal intensities of target and neighboring voxels, reducing opacity based on these changes to minimize noise influence, and perform volume rendering using corrected opacity values to form clearer three-dimensional images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If volume rendering is performed using conventional opacity values on ultrasound volume data, then three-dimensional images can be generated, but noise artifacts appear in the rendered images due to noise in the ultrasound data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the opacity of each voxel dependent on its local signal intensity characteristics. Specifically, the opacity calculation unit computes opacity values based on the signal intensity of each voxel and its neighboring voxels, creating locally adaptive opacity values that suppress noise while preserving genuine anatomical structures. This resolves the contradiction by allowing different regions of the volume data to have different opacity characteristics tailored to their local noise levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the opacity parameter dynamically based on signal intensity analysis. Instead of using uniform or predetermined opacity values, the system calculates opacity values by analyzing the relationship between each voxel's signal intensity and its neighbors' signal intensities. This parameter transformation converts raw ultrasound data into optimized rendering parameters that eliminate noise artifacts while maintaining image quality.
2Reliability
If opacity values are uniformly applied to all voxels in volume rendering, then processing is simple, but noise in the ultrasound data directly affects the rendered image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing signal intensity analysis and opacity calculation before the actual volume rendering process. The opacity calculation unit pre-computes optimized opacity values for all voxels based on their signal intensity characteristics and neighboring voxel relationships. This preliminary processing step prepares the data in advance, allowing the subsequent rendering to proceed efficiently without compromising noise suppression performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing the ultrasound volume data and determining optimal opacity values without requiring manual intervention. The opacity calculation unit autonomously evaluates signal intensity patterns and computes appropriate opacity values for each voxel based on predefined algorithms, enabling the system to adapt to different noise conditions automatically while maintaining processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A change amount information calculation unit calculates change amount information indicating an amount of change Vn between signal intensity of a target voxel and signal intensity of a neighboring voxel near the target voxel for each voxel forming ultrasound volume data. An opacity calculation unit calculates opacity α(Xn)*g(Vn) of each voxel such that opacity of the voxel is reduced with reduction in the amount of change Vn in the signal intensity from the neighboring voxel. A rendering processing unit performs volume rendering on the basis of signal intensity Xn of each voxel and the calculated opacity α(Xn)*g(Vn) of each voxel and forms a three-dimensional image.