Ultrasonograph 3D Motion Measurement via Sectional Tomographic Analysis

The patent divides the three-dimensional measurement space into multiple two-dimensional sectional positions. Instead of processing the entire 3D volume simultaneously, the system segments the analysis into multiple 2D cross-sections, each processed independently. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity from O(N³) for full 3D processing to O(k×N²) where k is the number of sections, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining 3D motion estimation capability through synthesis of sectional data.

The patent transforms the three-dimensional motion estimation problem into a series of two-dimensional measurement problems. By measuring motion in two dimensions at multiple sectional positions along the third dimension, the system reconstructs three-dimensional motion information. This dimensionality change allows using faster 2D processing algorithms while achieving 3D measurement accuracy, effectively trading computational dimension for processing speed.

The patent segments the complex three-dimensional region designation task into simpler two-dimensional region designations at multiple sectional positions. Users designate measurement regions in 2D cross-sections rather than attempting to define complex 3D volumes directly. This segmentation makes region designation more intuitive and easier to perform accurately, as 2D regions are simpler to visualize and define than 3D volumes.

The system performs preliminary action by automatically generating multiple two-dimensional sectional images from the three-dimensional image data before the user designates measurement regions. This preliminary segmentation into 2D sections is done automatically, saving the user from manually creating multiple 2D views or attempting to directly define 3D regions. The user then simply designates regions on these pre-generated 2D sections, significantly reducing the complexity of the measurement setup process.

The patent segments the motion estimation function into local motion analysis at each sectional position, followed by synthesis of these local results into global three-dimensional motion information. The system divides the complex task of 3D motion estimation into manageable local 2D motion analyses, each processed by the same algorithm, then combines the results. This modular segmented approach improves accuracy through comprehensive sampling while keeping device complexity manageable through algorithmic standardization.

The patent implements a universal motion estimation algorithm that functions identically at each sectional position regardless of the specific section. The same two-dimensional motion estimation process is applied universally across all k sections, making the system multi-functional for analyzing different anatomical regions and motion patterns using a single standardized approach. This universality reduces device complexity by avoiding the need for section-specific customization while achieving comprehensive three-dimensional coverage.