KR101126917B1 - Image processing system and method for forming oblique slice images using 3 dimension images - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing system and method for forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images using a three-dimensional image of an object, wherein the three-dimensional image data is formed by forming three-dimensional image data based on an image signal input from the outside. The reference section is displayed in the data, and a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals based on the reference line set in the displayed reference section are set on the reference section, and the reference line and the plurality of lights are based on the 3D image data. Provided are an ultrasound diagnosis system and method for forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images using a 3D ultrasound image of an object forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images corresponding to a gap line.

3D image, reference section, reference line, oblique section image

Description

Image processing system and method for forming oblique cross-sectional image using three-dimensional image {IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING OBLIQUE SLICE IMAGES USING 3 DIMENSION IMAGES}

1 is an exemplary view showing an example of a reference cross-sectional image and an oblique cross-sectional image formed using a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic system.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an image processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A to 4C are exemplary views showing examples of a baseline and a plurality of adjacent lines according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5a to 5c are exemplary views showing an example of displaying a reference cross-sectional image and a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of Signs of Major Parts of Drawings>

100: ultrasound diagnostic system 110: probe

112: transducer 120: beam former

130: video signal processor 140: scan converter

150: image processor 160: display unit

The present invention relates to an image processing system, and more particularly, to an image processing system and method for forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images using a three-dimensional image of an object.

An image processing system is an apparatus for processing and displaying an image of an object, and is used in various fields. As an example of an image processing system, an image processing system (hereinafter, referred to as an ultrasound diagnostic system) for ultrasound diagnosis will be described.

The ultrasonic diagnostic system irradiates an ultrasonic signal from a body surface of a subject to a desired part of the body, and uses the information of the reflected ultrasonic signal (ultrasonic echo signal) to obtain an image of soft tissue tomography or blood flow in a non-invasive manner. to be. Compared with other imaging devices such as X-ray diagnostics, X-ray CT scanners, magnetic resonance images, nuclear medicine diagnostics, etc., these devices are compact, inexpensive, and real-time displayable. Since there is no exposure to X-rays and the like, it has high safety and is widely used for diagnosing the heart, abdomen, urinary gynecology and gynecology.

In particular, the conventional ultrasound diagnostic system has a coronal view and a digital image representing a reference section, for example, a front, side, and top surface of a 3D ultrasound image, respectively, based on an ultrasound echo signal. Oblique cross section that displays a section view and an axial view, sets an arbitrary line (for example, a straight line or a curve) to the displayed reference section, and displays a cross section image corresponding to the set line. It provides a video display function.

That is, the conventional ultrasound diagnosis system displays a reference cross-sectional image on the reference cross-sectional image display region 11 and sets an oblique cross-sectional image display region 12 on the reference cross-sectional image as shown in FIG. 1. Displays an oblique cross-sectional image corresponding to a line (straight or curved).

However, since the conventional ultrasound diagnostic system displays one oblique cross-sectional image in the oblique cross-sectional image display area 12, the correlation between the cross-sectional images adjacent to the displayed oblique cross-sectional image and the currently displayed oblique cross-sectional image There is a problem that cannot be observed.

The present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and sets equal intervals spaced at equal intervals on the basis of the reference line set on the reference section in the three-dimensional image data of the object, corresponding to the reference line and a plurality of equal interval lines It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system and method for forming and displaying a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing system of the present invention comprises image data forming means for forming three-dimensional image data based on an image signal input from the outside; Display means for displaying a reference section in the three-dimensional image data; And a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals from the reference line based on the 3D image data and the reference line set in the reference section, the plurality of equidistant lines corresponding to the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines. Means for forming an oblique cross-sectional image of a.

In addition, the oblique cross-sectional image forming method of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) forming three-dimensional image data based on an image signal input from the outside; b) displaying a reference section in the 3D image data; c) setting a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals on the reference section based on the reference line set on the reference section; And d) forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images corresponding to the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines based on the 3D image data.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5C. An ultrasound diagnostic system will be described as an example of an image processing system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the ultrasound diagnostic system 100 according to the present invention includes a probe 110, a beam former 120, an image signal processor 130, a scan converter 140, and an image processor. 150 and the display unit 160. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasound diagnosis system 100 may include input means (for example, a mouse, a trackball, a keyboard, a touch pad, and the like) for setting an arbitrary line on a reference cross-sectional image. The apparatus may further include storage means for storing the 3D and 3D ultrasound image data. The image signal processor 130 and the image processor 150 may be implemented as one processor.

Probe 110 includes a plurality of 1D or 2D transducers 112. The probe 110 transmits a focused ultrasound beam to an object (not shown) along a transmission scan line by appropriately delaying an input time of pulses input to each transducer 112. Meanwhile, the ultrasonic echo signals reflected from the object are input to the transducers 112 with different reception times, and each transducer 112 outputs the input ultrasonic echo signals to the beamformer 120.

The beamformer 120 appropriately time-delays the ultrasonic echo signals input from each transducer 112 and sums the time-delayed ultrasonic echo signals to determine the energy reflected at the transmission focus point (not shown) on the transmission scan line. A receiving focused beam, which is a signal indicating a level, is output.

The image signal processor 130, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP) performs ultrasound detection data by performing envelope detection processing for detecting the magnitude of the ultrasound echo signals based on the ultrasound echo signals focused by the beamformer 120. To form. That is, the image signal processor 130 forms two-dimensional ultrasound image data based on location information of a plurality of points existing on each scan line and data obtained at each point. Here, the 2D ultrasound image data includes coordinates on the X-Y coordinate system of each point, angle information of each scan line with respect to the vertical scan line, data obtained at each point, and the like.

The scan converter 140 forms 3D ultrasound image data of the object based on the 2D ultrasound image data output from the image signal processor 130.

The image processor 150 forms a reference section image corresponding to the reference section selected by the user, sets a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals based on the reference line set on the reference section image, and sets the reference line And an oblique cross-sectional image corresponding to a plurality of equidistant lines. The operation of the image processor 150 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5C.

The reference cross-sectional image and the oblique cross-sectional image formed by the image processor 150 are displayed on the display unit 160.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image processor 150 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5C.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processor 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, when the 3D ultrasound image data is formed based on the 2D ultrasound image data (S110), the image processor 150 determines whether the user selects a reference section through the input means (S120).

If it is determined in step S120 that the reference section is selected, the image processor 150 forms a reference section image corresponding to the selected reference section based on the 3D ultrasound image data (S130), and shows the formed reference section image in FIG. 5. As described above, the image is displayed on the reference section image display area 210 (S140).

Subsequently, the image processor 150 determines whether the user sets a reference line on the reference cross-sectional image displayed on the reference cross-sectional image display area 210 through the input means (S150).

If it is determined in step S150 that the reference line is set on the reference section image, the image processor 150 detects coordinate information of the reference line set on the reference section image (S160) and based on the detected coordinate information, the same distance from the reference line. A plurality of equidistant lines are spaced and parallel to each other (S170). Here, the equally spaced lines are set to the lower side (FIG. 4A), the upper and lower side (FIG. 4B), and the upper side (FIG. 4C) based on the reference line as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and the number of equally spaced lines is the user. Can be changed by Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the reference line and the equally spaced line are straight, but in another embodiment, the reference line and the equally spaced line may be curved.

The image processor 150 determines whether the user rotates an oblique line (in which the oblique line includes a reference line and a plurality of equally spaced lines) at a predetermined angle through an input means (S180).

If it is determined in step S180 that the oblique line is not rotated, while performing step S200, and if it is determined in step S180 that the oblique line is rotated at a predetermined angle, the image processor 150 rotates the input input through the input means. The oblique line is rotated based on the angle information (S190).

The image processor 150 obtains a predetermined number, more preferably several hundred sampling points, on each oblique line (S200), and forms an oblique cross-sectional image corresponding to each oblique line based on the obtained sampling point. In operation S210, the formed oblique cross-sectional image is displayed on the oblique cross-sectional image display area 220 corresponding to each oblique line (S220). For example, when the oblique line is set as shown in FIG. 4A, the image processor 150 displays the reference cross-sectional image and the oblique cross section image as shown in FIG. 5A, and when the oblique line is set as shown in FIG. 4B, the image processor 150 displays the reference cross-sectional image and the oblique cross-sectional image as shown in FIG. 5B. When the oblique line is set as shown in FIG. 4C, the image processor 150 displays the reference cross-sectional image and the oblique cross-sectional image as shown in FIG. 5C. Can be displayed.

Subsequently, the image processor 150 determines whether the oblique cross-sectional image forming process according to the present embodiment is terminated (S230), and when it is determined that the oblique cross-sectional image forming process is finished, the image processor 150 may determine an ultrasound diagnosis system. If it is determined that the oblique cross-sectional image forming process being executed at 100 is finished and the oblique cross-sectional image forming process is not finished, the process returns to step S150.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated by way of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

For example, in the present exemplary embodiment, a plurality of equidistant lines are set based on one reference line set on the reference cross-sectional image, but in another embodiment, a plurality of reference lines are set on the reference cross-sectional image, Multiple equally spaced lines for each baseline may be set based on the two baselines.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of oblique lines are set on a reference cross-sectional image, and an oblique cross-sectional image corresponding to each oblique line is formed and displayed, thereby allowing a user to easily associate with each cross-sectional image. Can be observed.

Claims (15)

Image data forming means for forming three-dimensional image data based on an image signal input from the outside; Display means for displaying a reference section in the three-dimensional image data; And Means for forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images based on the three-dimensional image data and at least one reference line set in the reference cross-section Image processing system comprising a. The method of claim 1, Means for forming the plurality of oblique cross-sectional images, And setting a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals from the reference line in the reference section, and detecting a rotation of the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines to form a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images. 3. The method of claim 2, Input means for receiving information of the reference line set in the reference section from a user Image processing system further comprising. The image processing system of claim 2, wherein the 3D image data is 3D ultrasound image data. 4. The image processing system of claim 3, wherein the display means displays a reference section selected through the input means. The image processing system of claim 2, wherein the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines are straight lines. The image processing system of claim 2, wherein the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines are curved. a) forming three-dimensional image data based on an image signal input from the outside; b) displaying a reference section in the 3D image data; And c) forming a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images based on the three-dimensional image data and at least one reference line set in the reference cross-section Oblique cross-sectional image forming method comprising a. The method of claim 8, Step c) is Oblique cross-sectional image formation, which sets a plurality of equidistant lines spaced at equal intervals from the reference line in the reference cross section, and detects rotation of the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines to form a plurality of oblique cross-sectional images. Way. The method of claim 9, wherein the 3D image data is 3D ultrasound image data. The method of claim 9, wherein the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines are straight lines. The method of claim 9, wherein the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines are curved. The method of claim 9, wherein step b) b1) receiving selection information of a reference section from the 3D image data; And b2) displaying a reference section based on the selection information Oblique cross-sectional image forming method comprising a. The method of claim 9, wherein step c) Receiving information of the reference line set on the reference section by a user Oblique cross-sectional image forming method further comprising. The method of claim 9, wherein step c) c1) receiving rotation angle information of the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines; And c2) rotating the reference line and the plurality of equidistant lines based on the rotation angle information. Oblique cross-sectional image forming method further comprising.

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