Ultrasound Angle Visualization Using Weighted Image Compounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging methods fail to effectively visualize anisotropic structures and structures behind strong reflectors due to fixed signal compounding methods, which can obscure important information from different angles and require probe repositioning for angle adjustment.
Innovation Solution
Generate and overlay angle-emphasis images on a spatial compound image, allowing users to selectively view and adjust the weight of these images to enhance visualization of regions of interest from multiple angles, and optionally create cine clips for sequential viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed signal compounding methods are used, then processing simplicity is maintained, but visualization of anisotropic structures and structures behind strong reflectors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts signal compounding by allowing users to select specific insonification angles and apply weighted summations to generate angle-emphasis images. This dynamic approach replaces fixed compounding methods, enabling optimization of visualization for different tissue types and imaging scenarios while maintaining processing efficiency through software-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of signal compounding by introducing angle-specific weighting factors that can be adjusted to emphasize particular insonification angles. This parameter modification allows selective enhancement of structures that are poorly visualized with conventional fixed compounding, such as anisotropic structures and lesions behind strong reflectors.
2Loss of information
If probe repositioning is performed to adjust angles, then angle-specific visualization is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical operation of probe repositioning with computational processing. Instead of physically moving the probe to change insonification angles, the system processes existing multi-angle ultrasound data through software-based angle-emphasis image generation. This substitution eliminates the need for manual probe manipulation while providing the same angle-specific visualization benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data acquisition by collecting ultrasound signals from multiple insonification angles during the initial scan. This preliminary multi-angle data collection enables subsequent angle-emphasis image generation without requiring additional probe movements, saving time and simplifying operation while providing comprehensive angle-specific information.
3Loss of information
If multiple angle-emphasis images are generated and overlaid, then information retrieval is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple angle-emphasis images into a single composite display by overlaying them with adjustable transparency levels. This merging approach allows simultaneous visualization of structures from different angles, enabling comprehensive information retrieval about anisotropic structures and lesions behind reflectors while maintaining a unified visual interface that does not significantly increase operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The current disclosure provides systems and methods for angle visualization in ultrasound imaging. In one example, a method includes obtaining ultrasound receive signals of a region of interest (ROI) of an imaging subject, generating a plurality of angle-emphasis images from the ultrasound receive signals, each angle-emphasis image generated from a weighted summation of the ultrasound receive signals, generating a spatial compound image from the plurality of angle-emphasis images, and displaying, on a display device, a plurality of overlaid images, each overlaid image including a respective angle-emphasis image of the plurality of angle-emphasis images overlaid on the spatial compound image.