Ultrasound 3D Bone Model Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for generating 3-D bone models, such as CT and MRI, are costly and expose patients to radiation, necessitating the development of radiation-free and cost-effective techniques for patient-specific bone and cartilage model reconstruction.
Innovation Solution
The method involves acquiring A-mode ultrasound RF signals, isolating bone contours, and transforming them into point clouds to optimize a 3-D bone model, utilizing tracking information to generate a virtual 3-D musculoskeletal model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If CT or MRI scans are used to generate 3-D bone models, then model accuracy is improved, but patient radiation exposure and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ionizing radiation-based imaging (CT) with ultrasound-based imaging to generate 3-D bone models. The ultrasound system transmits acoustic waves through the bone and processes the reflected signals to reconstruct the bone geometry, eliminating radiation exposure while maintaining model accuracy for surgical planning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the imaging modality parameter from ionizing radiation (CT) or magnetic fields (MRI) to acoustic waves (ultrasound). By processing radiofrequency signals and envelope data from ultrasound scans, the system achieves bone model reconstruction without the harmful radiation effects of CT scans.
2Measurement precision
If CT or MRI scans are used to generate 3-D bone models, then model accuracy is improved, but procedure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ultrasound technology, which is generally more cost-effective than CT or MRI scans, to generate the necessary imaging data for 3-D bone model reconstruction. The ultrasound equipment and processing methods provide an affordable alternative that maintains sufficient accuracy for orthopedic surgical planning without the high costs of conventional modalities.
3Ease of manufacture
If B-mode ultrasound images are used for imaging, then cost and radiation-free nature are improved, but image resolution and dynamic range decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultrasound signal processing into distinct stages: acquiring raw radiofrequency signals, extracting envelope data, and reconstructing 3-D bone models. By processing the signal at multiple levels (raw RF data, envelope, and final model), the system achieves high resolution and dynamic range while maintaining the cost and radiation-free advantages of ultrasound.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2-D B-mode ultrasound images to 3-D bone model reconstruction. By adding the temporal dimension and processing signals across multiple scan lines, the system recovers lost resolution and dynamic range information that would be present in raw ultrasound data but are lost in conventional B-mode processing.
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
This approach allows for the creation of accurate, patient-specific 3-D bone models without radiation exposure or high costs, enhancing pre-operative planning and surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring a plurality of raw radiofrequency ('RF') signals from an A-mode ultrasound scan of the bone
Implementation Method 2
A-mode ultrasound imaging utilizes the raw RF signals reflected from the bone
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a 3-D patient-specific bone model, the method comprising: (a) acquiring a plurality of raw radiofrequency (“RF”) signals from an A-mode ultrasound scan of a patient's bone at a plurality of locations using an ultrasound probe that comprises a transducer array; (b) tracking the acquiring of the plurality of raw RF signals in 3-D space and generating corresponding tracking data; (c) transforming each of the plurality of raw RF signals into an envelope comprising a plurality of peaks by applying an envelope detection algorithm to each of the plurality of raw RF signals, each peak corresponding with a tissue interface echo; (d) identifying a bone echo from the tissue interface echoes of each of the plurality of raw RF signals to comprise a plurality of bone echoes by selecting the last peak having a normalized envelope amplitude above a preset threshold, wherein the envelope amplitude is normalized with respect to a maximum peak existing in the envelope; (e) determining a 2-D bone contour from the plurality of bone echoes corresponding to each location of the ultrasound probe to comprise 2-D bone contours; (f) transforming the 2-D bone contours into an integrated 3-D point cloud using the tracking data; and, (g) deforming a non-patient specific 3-D bone model corresponding to the patient's bone in correspondence with the integrated 3-D point cloud to generate a 3-D patient-specific bone model.