KR101545520B1 - Method for displaying ultrasound image, and apparatus thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

Displaying in the first area in the screen the current observation step for diagnosing the object corresponds to which of the plurality of observation steps; A dividing method for dividing the observation section, the reference point, and the ultrasonic volume data corresponding to the current observation step among the division methods for dividing the observation section, the reference point and the ultrasonic volume data matched for each of the plurality of observation steps in the second region in the screen ; And displaying a plurality of cross-section images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the dividing method, on a third region in the screen, based on the observation cross-section and the reference point.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound image display method,

An ultrasound image management method and apparatus for efficiently managing an ultrasound image acquired for a heart of a fetus, and an ultrasound image display method and apparatus for displaying an ultrasound image to enable a user to diagnose a target object.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates an ultrasonic signal using a probe for a predetermined region inside the object (generally, 20 kHz or more), and obtains an image of a region inside the object using the information of the reflected echo signal. In particular, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used for medical purposes such as the detection of foreign matter inside the object, the measurement and observation of the injury. Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is more stable than X-ray, can be displayed in real time, and has advantages of no radiation exposure, so it is widely used with other diagnostic apparatuses.

Fetal heart malformation constitutes a large proportion of fetal diseases. However, it is very difficult for physicians who are not skilled enough to obtain ultrasound images of the fetal heart because fetal echoes vary from place to place in the adult heart, depending on the position of the fetus in the placenta.

In order to efficiently acquire an ultrasound image of a fetal heart, a guideline and a protocol for a user of the ultrasound device are proposed. However, the ultrasound volume data may be rotated or moved along the x / y / z axis , It requires cumbersome work to enlarge and reduce. Also, it takes a lot of time and effort to utilize all the measurement methods for various observation steps that observe fetal heart.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for acquiring and displaying an ultrasound image of a fetal heart from ultrasound volume data. The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic image management method comprising the steps of: determining a reference point and an observation section for ultrasonic volume data; obtaining a plurality of images by dividing ultrasonic volume data based on a reference point and an observation section; And storing the image selected by the external input signal among the plurality of images by matching the current observation step among the plurality of observation steps for observing the target object.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the acquiring step includes acquiring a plurality of images by dividing the ultrasound volume data so that the cross-sections dividing the ultrasound volume data form a predetermined angle with the observation plane .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the acquiring step includes acquiring a plurality of images by dividing the cross sections dividing the ultrasonic volume data so that they cross each other around the reference point.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the acquiring step includes acquiring a plurality of images by adjusting at least one of an interval and a number of cross sections for dividing ultrasonic volume data.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the observation section is any one of an A-section, a B-section, and a C-section of a target object included in the ultrasound volume data.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storing step stores location information of a cross-section on which ultrasound volume data is divided to obtain a selected image together with a selected image.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound image management method further includes displaying images that are matched to the current observation step and the current observation step together.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the displaying step displays an example image of a current observation step.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic image management method includes aligning ultrasonic volume data such that a reference region including a reference point is located in a predetermined direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic image management method further includes selecting a current observation step from among a plurality of observation steps, and the step of selecting includes the steps of: The current observation step is selected or selected based on the external input signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic image management method is characterized by further comprising the step of determining one of a plurality of observation steps as a new current observation step, and the method is repeatedly performed .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic image management method comprising: setting information including at least one of an observation section cut by ultrasonic volume data in a predetermined direction, a dividing method for dividing volume data, Displaying a plurality of cross-section images obtained using matched configuration information for a current observation step, which is one of a plurality of observation steps, and displaying a plurality And matching the selected one of the images selected by the external input signal with the current observation step.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic image management method further includes the steps of displaying a new observation step and storing the image repeatedly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasound image displaying method comprising the steps of: displaying in a first area on a screen a current observation step for diagnosing a target object, Displaying at least one of an observation section corresponding to a current observation step, a reference point, and a division method for dividing ultrasonic volume data; and displaying a plurality of ultrasound volume data on the basis of the observation section and the reference point, And displaying images of the cross section.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a current observation step is selected according to a predetermined order among a plurality of observation steps, or is selected by an external input signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying an ultrasound image, the method comprising: marking a selected image so that an image selected by an external input signal from a plurality of images is distinguished from other images in a third area; And further comprising:

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for measuring ultrasound volume data, the apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing ultrasound volume data; a reference point and an observation section for ultrasound volume data; And a control unit for controlling the storage unit, the image processing unit, and the display unit, wherein the storage unit stores the image selected by the external input signal among the plurality of images, Wherein the plurality of observation steps are matched with the current observation step and stored.

There is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing an ultrasound image management method and an ultrasound image display method in a computer is recorded.

According to the solution described above, the user can acquire and read ultrasound images of the fetal heart without troublesome operation. In addition, even an untrained user can efficiently acquire an ultrasound image for a predetermined protocol. That is, it is possible to obtain an effect of improving the dependency and the success rate in diagnosing the object through the acquired ultrasound image by acquiring the ultrasound image of the fetal heart.

This disclosure may be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which reference numerals refer to structural elements.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
2 is a flow chart illustrating an ultrasound image management method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
3 is a flow chart illustrating an ultrasound image display method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
4 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining a reference point by an ultrasonic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process in which an ultrasonic apparatus acquires a plurality of images and stores a selected one of the plurality of images, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process in which an ultrasonic apparatus acquires a plurality of images and stores a selected one of the plurality of images, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of matching an image selected from a plurality of images based on an external input signal to an observation step according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
8 is a diagram illustrating a process of displaying an exemplary image together for an observation step in connection with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of displaying an image stored together corresponding to an observation step and an observation step in connection with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of displaying an image stored in association with an observation step and an observation step in association with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
11 is a diagram showing a process of indicating in which order the current observation step corresponds to the entire observation step, with reference to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Although the terms used in this disclosure have taken into account the functions in this disclosure and have made possible general terms that are currently widely used, they may vary depending on the intent or circumstance of the person skilled in the art, the emergence of new technologies and the like. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term selected arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Accordingly, the terms used in this disclosure should be defined based on the meaning of the term rather than on the name of the term, and throughout the present disclosure.

When an element is referred to as " including " an element throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the element may include other elements as well, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the term " part " or the like described in the specification means a unit for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic apparatus 100 related to the present disclosure. The ultrasound system 100 may include a storage unit 110, an image processing unit 120, a display unit 130, and a controller 140. Hereinafter, a method of managing and displaying an ultrasound image using the configuration included in the ultrasound device 100 will be described in detail.

The storage unit 110 stores ultrasound volume data. The ultrasound volume data stored in the storage unit 110 is data obtained by scanning an object using an ultrasonic probe. The acquired ultrasound volume data is a three-dimensional image, and it has a sector shape instead of a rectangular parallelepiped due to the characteristics of the ultrasonic device. Hereinafter, ultrasound volume data acquired by scanning the heart of a fetus will be described as an example, but the ultrasound volume data is not limited to data obtained by scanning the body.

The ultrasonic volume data stored in the storage unit 110 may be acquired from a storage medium connected from the outside of the ultrasonic apparatus 100, in addition to being obtained using a probe. Also, the storage unit 110 may acquire and store ultrasound volume data using a PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System).

In addition, the storage unit 110 may store ultrasound images. The ultrasound image stored in the storage unit 110 may be a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image, and the two-dimensional image may be an image of a cross-section obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data. The ultrasound image stored in the storage unit 110 may be directly acquired by the ultrasound device 100 by scanning the object and may be received through a medical image storage and transmission system by wire or wirelessly.

The storage unit 110 may store an image selected from a plurality of images obtained by the image processing unit 120 and a plurality of images based on an external input signal. In addition, the storage unit 110 may store the selected image based on the external input signal in association with a predetermined observation step. That is, the storage unit 110 may store an image selected for each observation step.

In the following specification, " observation step " means a process of observing a target object through an observation section. That is, the user can diagnose the object through a predetermined observation section for each observation step. Described in detail, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can divide the volume data using the observation section for each observation step, and provide the obtained image to the user. The process will be described in detail in FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG.

&Quot; Observation section " means a section cut from volume data in a predetermined direction to observe the object. That is, the observation section is a section where the position on the volume data varies depending on the object to be observed and each observation step.

Accordingly, the storage unit 110 may store and store information about the observation step and the observation section for observing the object. In addition, the storage unit 110 may store information on the observation section and the dividing method for dividing the volume data for each observation step. Further, the storage unit 110 may store information on the observation section, the reference point, and the division method matched for each observation step as setting information.

Hereinafter, as an example of the observation step, a 4-chamber view for observing the heart will be described as an example. The storage unit 110 may store a C plane (C plane) as an observation plane for the observation step of the four-chamber view. In addition, the storage unit 110 may store information on how to divide the observed heart into straight lines in the horizontal direction, as a method for dividing the volume data in the C section. Furthermore, the storage unit 110 may store the center of the descending aorta as a reference point for rotating the volume data.

According to another embodiment, the storage unit 110 may store location information on volume data of a plurality of sections obtained by dividing volume data. An embodiment in which the storage unit 110 stores various information by matching with the observation step will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG.

The image processing unit 120 determines a reference point, an observation section, and a division method for the ultrasonic volume data. Information on the reference point, the observation section, and the division method can be matched to each observation step. As described above, information on the determined reference point, observation section, and division method can be stored in the storage unit 110. [

According to one embodiment, the information about the reference point, the observation section, and the division method for each observation step may be determined by the information input from the user. That is, various pieces of information on the observation step may be directly determined by the image processing unit 120 using volume data and a predetermined algorithm, or may be determined according to an external input signal. This will be described in detail in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

In addition, the image processing unit 120 divides the ultrasonic volume data according to the dividing method based on the reference point and the observation section to acquire a plurality of images. In the case where the image processing unit 120 acquires a plurality of images, there may be various methods of dividing the ultrasonic volume data, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. In addition, when the image processing unit 120 acquires a plurality of images, the interval and the number of divisions for dividing the ultrasonic volume data may be adjusted.

The display unit 130 may display a plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by dividing ultrasonic volume data on a screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. In addition, the display unit 130 may display an image stored corresponding to the observation step among the plurality of images together with the observation step. In addition, the display unit 130 may display an example image of the observation step.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the display unit 130 may display the observation step for the object to be observed in the ultrasound volume data in the first area in the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. In addition, the display unit 130 may display at least one of a reference point in a second area of the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100, an observation section matching with the observation step, and a division method of dividing the ultrasonic volume data. Furthermore, the display unit 130 may display a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data based on the observation plane and the reference point in the third region in the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. With reference to this embodiment, the details will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG.

In addition, the display unit 130 may display which order the current observation step corresponds to during the entire observation step. For example, when diagnosing an object through a total of five observation steps, it can be displayed that the current observation step corresponds to the second observation step. Accordingly, the user can easily understand the entire process, and can again select the previous observation step through additional input.

According to one embodiment, the display unit 130 may include a plurality of modules that perform the functions described above. For example, the display unit 130 may include an observation step display module that displays in which of the entire observation steps the current observation step includes a plurality of observation steps. In addition, the display unit 130 may include a division information display module that displays at least one of an observation section corresponding to the current observation step, a reference point, and a division method of dividing the volume data. Furthermore, the display unit 130 may include a split screen display module for displaying images of a plurality of cross-sections obtained by dividing the volume data.

The display unit 130 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, (3D display). In addition, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 may include two or more display units 130 according to the embodiment.

The controller 140 controls the operation of the ultrasonic device 100 as a whole. The control unit 140 may control the storage unit 110, the image processing unit 120, and the display unit 130 to manage and output the acquired ultrasound images.

For example, the control unit 140 may control the storage unit 110 to match and store the selected image for the observation step, and then proceed to the next observation step. That is, the control unit 140 can control the progress of a plurality of observation steps.

The ultrasonic apparatus 100 may further include a user input unit (not shown) in addition to the above-described configuration. The user input unit receives an external input signal for controlling the ultrasonic apparatus 100 from the user. For example, the user input may receive an external input that selects an image corresponding to a current observation step of the plurality of images. Further, the user input section may receive an external input for selecting any one of a plurality of observation steps.

The user input unit can receive an external input signal through an input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a stylus pen. In addition, an external input signal can be received through an operation of directly touching or dragging the liquid crystal screen.

In addition, when the display unit 130 and the touch pad form a layer structure and are configured as a touch screen, the display unit 130 may also function as a user input unit. At this time, the display unit 130 can detect a touch input position, an area, and a touch pressure. In addition, the touch screen can detect a proximity touch as well as a real touch.

Hereinafter, a method of managing and displaying ultrasound images using the configuration included in the ultrasound apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 and 3, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 110, an image processor 120, a display unit 130, and a controller 140, .

2 is a flow chart illustrating an ultrasound image management method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In step 210, the ultrasound device 100 determines the observation step. That is, the observation step determined in accordance with the order inputted in advance among the plurality of observation steps or according to the user input is determined.

For example, if a user wishes to observe both the left atrium, the left ventricle, the right ventricle, and the right ventricle of a fetal echo, a four chamber view would be a suitable observation step . In addition, there are four chamber view, five chamber view, three vessels & trachea view, LVOT / RVOT view (Left / Right Ventricular Outflow Tract view), and aortic arch view) can be used as an observation step to observe the fetal heart. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various observation steps other than those mentioned above can exist.

In step 220, the ultrasonic device 100 displays the observation section matched to the observation step. That is, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can display the observation section stored matching the observation step determined in step 210. [

The observation section according to one embodiment can be any one of the A section, the B section, and the C section. The ultrasound volume data is shown as an A plane in the viewing direction as viewed from above, a B plane as viewed from the left / right side, a C plane viewed from the front, ). That is, the A sectional image represents a transverse plane for ultrasound volume data, the B sectional image represents a sagittal plane, and the C sectional image represents a coronal plane. Therefore, the observation section can be any one of the A, B, and C sections of the object included in the ultrasonic volume data.

According to yet another embodiment, the ultrasound device 100 may display one or more observation cross-sections at step 220. That is, the ultrasonic device 100 can display all of the A, B, and C cross sections.

According to another embodiment, in step 220, the ultrasonic device 100 may rotate the volume data to obtain an observation cross-section. That is, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can rotate the volume data around the reference point to obtain a matching observation section for the observation step. The reference point, which is the center for rotating the volume data, and the degree of rotation can be matched with the observation step and stored in advance.

In step 230, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 divides the ultrasonic volume data according to the reference point matched to the observation step and the division method. The reference point is any point indicating a spatial position in the ultrasonic volume data, and may be expressed in three-dimensional coordinates. Further, the reference point may be any position on the observation section. The detailed process for determining the reference point will be described again in Fig.

In step 230, there are various methods for dividing the ultrasonic volume data. For example, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 may divide the volume data so that the cross sections intersect with each other about the reference point, or may divide the volume data as the cross sections are separated by a predetermined distance about the reference point.

For example, it is possible to consider the case where the observation section is the C section, that is, the direction in which the ultrasonic volume data is viewed from the front. The ultrasonic apparatus 100 can determine a plurality of dividing lines dividing the ultrasonic volume data in the left and right directions with respect to the cross section C The plurality of dividing lines may be arranged with equal spacing in the vertical direction about the reference point. A plurality of dividing lines appear in the form of a one-dimensional line because they appear on the observation cross-section, but may mean a divided cross-section for dividing the ultrasonic volume data. The ultrasonic apparatus 100 may divide the ultrasonic volume data according to a plurality of dividing lines determined according to the above-described example.

In step 230, the ultrasound device 100 may acquire a plurality of images from the result of dividing the ultrasound volume data.

In step 240, the ultrasound device 100 displays a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasound volume data. That is, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can display a plurality of images as candidates for the observation step determined in step 210. [

At step 250, the ultrasound device 100 stores the selected image among a plurality of images, matching the observation step. An image to be stored may be selected by an external input signal or an image judged to be most similar according to a result of comparison with an example image stored in the ultrasonic apparatus 100. [

For example, for an observation step of a four chamber view, a user may select one image that best represents a four chamber view from a plurality of images. The ultrasound device 100 may match and store selected images in a four chamber view. Accordingly, when the user selects the 4-chamber view, the object can be diagnosed through the matching stored image. The user can conveniently and efficiently diagnose the object through each image stored and matched to various observation steps other than the four-chamber view.

In step 260, the ultrasound device 100 selects the next observation step. As described above, the next observation step may be selected according to the order pre-inputted to the ultrasonic apparatus 100, and the next observation step may be selected by the external input signal.

For example, the ultrasound device 100 may store an image for an observation step of a four-chamber view, and then select a five-chamber view as an observation step according to a pre-entered sequence. On the other hand, the image processing unit 120 may determine a five chamber view, a three-vessel and a trachy view, etc., in addition to the four-chamber view, based on the external input signal received by the user input unit.

3 is a flow chart illustrating an ultrasound image display method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In step 310, the display unit 130 may display an observation step for a target object to be observed in the ultrasound volume data, in a first area of the screen of the ultrasound device 100. That is, the display unit 130 may display an observation step manually or automatically determined by the image processing unit 120 by an external input signal.

Displaying the observation step means displaying how the viewpoint for observing a predetermined object is located in the volume data. For example, the display unit 130 may display an image of the heart of the subject's fetus and display how the four-chamber view of the observation step is located. Details will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.

In step 320, the display unit 130 may display at least one of an observation section corresponding to the observation step, a reference point, and a dividing line dividing the ultrasonic volume data into a second area in the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. [ As described above, the dividing line dividing the volume data can be determined according to the dividing method stored in matching with the observation step.

For example, when the observation step is a 4-chamber view, the display unit 130 can display the C section as an observation section and display a plurality of division lines dividing the ultrasonic volume data on the observation section. In addition, the display unit 130 may display a dividing method of dividing the volume data in the left and right directions of the observation section about the reference point.

In step 330, the display unit 130 may display images of a plurality of sections in the third area in the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100, which are obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data based on the dividing method and the reference point. The images of the plurality of cross-sections may be images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data by the image processing unit 120. In addition, each of the plurality of images may be an image obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to each of the plurality of division lines displayed in the second area.

The user can efficiently diagnose the object through the first area, the second area and the third area displayed on the screen of the ultrasonic device 100 by the display part 130. [ That is, an ultrasound image for diagnosing a target object can be conveniently obtained through a plurality of images obtained by dividing the observation step, the observation section, and the ultrasound volume data.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a process in which the ultrasonic device 100 determines a reference point in connection with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

4A, the display unit 130 displays an A sectional image 410, a B sectional image 420, and a C sectional image 430 on the upper left side of the screen 400, a B sectional image 420 on the upper right side, And ultrasound volume data 440 can be displayed at the lower right end thereof, respectively. The display unit 130 of the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can output A / B / C sectional images of the ultrasound volume data 440 stored in the storage unit 110 to the screen 400 of the ultrasonic apparatus 100 have.

4A, the image processing unit 120 may determine the reference points 415, 425, and 435 of the ultrasound volume data 440. According to one embodiment, the image processing unit 120 can determine the reference points 415, 425, and 435 from the four chamber view and set the centers of the descending aorta (AoD) appearing in the four chamber view as reference points 415 and 425 , ≪ / RTI > 435). At this time, the image processing unit 120 can identify the descending aorta from the 4-chamber view and automatically determine its center as the reference points 415, 425, and 435. On the other hand, the user input of the ultrasound device 100 may receive an external input signal that selects the center of the descending aorta, and the image processing unit 120 may determine the reference points 415, 425, and 435 based on the received input .

4A illustrates the process of determining the reference points 415, 425, and 435 through the four-chamber view of the ultrasound volume data 440. However, the image processing unit 120 may process the reference points 415, Can be determined.

The storage unit 110 stores the determined reference point. According to one embodiment, the storage unit 110 may match and store the reference points in the observation step as described above.

4A, a reference area 433 including a reference point 435 is shown. Hereinafter, the process of aligning the A / B / C sectional images 450, 460 and 470 and the ultrasonic volume data 480 in FIG. 4B will be described with reference to the reference area 433. FIG.

In Fig. 4B, the C-section image 470 shows a reference area 473 with a center point 475. Fig. 4B, the image processing unit 120 rotates the A / B / C sectional images 410, 420, and 430 around the center points 435 and 375 so that the reference area 433 of FIG. Sectional views 450, 460 and 470 of the A / B / C cross-sectional images.

In order to obtain a plurality of images in which the ultrasonic apparatus 100 divides the ultrasonic volume data along the observation section, another reference to the ultrasonic volume data as well as the reference point is required. This is because the ultrasonic volume data is a three-dimensional image. That is, a specific point of a three-dimensional image can not be expressed by only one point with respect to a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, it is necessary to determine another criterion other than the reference point 435 in order to divide the ultrasonic volume data according to the observation section.

In this embodiment, the image processing unit 120 determines another reference described above by a method of vertically aligning the reference area 433 including the reference point 435 with respect to the four-chamber view of the ultrasonic volume data. However, in addition to the vertical alignment of the reference area 433, there may be a variety of ways to determine the reference for ultrasound volume data. There are many other ways to observe other than the four-chamber view.

Hereinafter, the process of aligning the ultrasound volume data 440 and the A / B / C sectional images 410, 420, and 430 will be described in detail. According to one embodiment, the image processor 120 may invert the brightness of the C section image 430 on the basis of a predetermined brightness value, with respect to the C section image 430 of the 4-chamber view. Then, the image processing unit 120 can determine an object to be rotated through an 8 or 4 connected component analysis algorithm and a skeletalization algorithm. Further, the determined angle of inclination of the reference region may be determined to rotate the ultrasonic volume data 440.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the image processing unit 120 rotates the A / B / C sectional images 410, 420, and 430 of the ultrasound volume data 440, Two vertically arranged boundaries can be detected through an edge detection algorithm. Then, the detected boundary lines may be vertically arranged and aligned. In addition to the above-described embodiments, the ultrasound volume data 440 A / B / C sectional images 410, 420, and 430 can be aligned through various methods.

The image processing unit 120 may align the reference region 473 in the vertical direction and divide the ultrasonic volume data to determine a reference for acquiring a plurality of images. That is, if the descending aorta (AoD) referred to as an example of the reference region is aligned in the vertical direction on the C-plane, the image processing unit 120 may divide the sorted ultrasound volume data and acquire images for various observation steps .

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the ultrasonic apparatus 100 acquires a plurality of images and stores a selected one of the plurality of images, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, a case where the image processing unit 120 determines a 4-chamber view as an observation step will be described as an example.

The display unit 130 may display the four chamber view in the first region 510 of the screen 500 of the ultrasonic apparatus 100 in an observing step. That is, the display unit 130 can display where the section corresponding to the four-chamber view for observing the heart of the fetus is located on the volume data.

In the following description, terms such as the first region, the second region, and the third region are terms for referring to a plurality of regions displayed on the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100 regardless of the order. That is, each term can be selected according to the convenience of explanation regardless of the position displayed on the screen.

5, four observation steps 5101, 5102, 5103 and 5104 are displayed in the first region 510, and the four chamber view 5104, which is the current observation step, is shown in bold. The current observation step may refer to an observation section in which a series of processes for selecting and storing an image are performed using information on an observation section, a reference point, and a division method previously stored in a plurality of observation steps.

The display unit 130 includes a plurality of dividing lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216 that divide the observation plane and the ultrasonic volume data corresponding to the determined observation step 5104 into the second area 520 of the screen 500, Can be displayed. Also, the display unit 130 may display the reference point matching the observation step 5104.

When the four-chamber view is determined as the observation step as described above, the four-chamber view corresponds to the A-sectional image, which is the cross section cut in the horizontal direction of the ultrasonic volume data. That is, the cross section of the ultrasound volume data is cut into 4 chambers based on the C sectional image. Accordingly, the display unit 130 can display a C-section on the observation plane, and display a plurality of division lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216 that cut the C-plane image in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, since the A-sectional image corresponds to the cross-section of the B-sectional image, the image processing unit 120 may determine the reference point based on the B-sectional surface. At this time, the display unit 130 may display divided lines cut in the horizontal direction of the B sectional image.

Then, the image processing unit 120 may divide the ultrasonic volume data to obtain a plurality of images. That is, the image processing unit 120 may obtain an image of the cross sections of the ultrasonic volume data according to the plurality of division lines 5201, 5202, ..., 5216. The images of the cross-sections may refer to a two-dimensional image of a cross-section obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data around the determined reference point for the current observation step.

According to one embodiment, the image processing unit 120 may acquire a plurality of images by adjusting the intervals or the number of the dividing lines of the plurality of dividing lines 5201, 5202, ..., 5216 dividing the ultrasonic volume data. In other words, the image processing unit 120 can arbitrarily adjust the interval of the dividing lines to acquire a plurality of images in which ultrasonic volume data is densely or sparsely divided. Alternatively, the image processing unit 120 may adjust the number of images obtained by adjusting the number of divided lines.

Subsequently, the display unit 130 may display images of a cross section obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the plurality of division lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216 in the third area 530 of the screen 500 have. That is, the 16 images displayed on the screen 500 of the ultrasound apparatus 100 are divided into ultrasound volume data according to a plurality of partition lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216 displayed in the second area 520 It is an image corresponding to a cross section.

The user input may then receive an input from the user to select one of the plurality of images. That is, the display unit 130 may receive an input from the user for selecting an image in which the 4-chamber view is best viewed from the image of the cross-section divided from the ultrasonic volume data. Further, the storage unit 110 may store images selected by the external input signal in the observation step.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when storing and matching a selected image with an observation step, the storage unit 110 may store position information of a dividing line or a cross-section of the divided ultrasound volume data to acquire the selected image. For example, it is possible to consider a case where an image selected from a plurality of images in FIG. 5 is a section obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the last division line 5216 among the divided lines displayed in the second area 520. At this time, the storage unit 110 may store the information of the four chamber view, the selected image, and the last division line 5216, which are observation steps. Alternatively, the storage unit 110 may store positional information of a cross section based on a dividing line other than a dividing line.

According to another embodiment, the storage unit 110 may store not only the image selected by the external input signal but also a plurality of images acquired by the image processing unit 120. [ Accordingly, when the current observation step is selected again, the display unit 130 can display the stored plurality of images again, and the image processing unit 120 does not need to divide the volume data again. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the time required for the image processing unit 120 to divide the volume data.

5, when the image processing unit 120 divides the ultrasonic volume data, the ultrasonic volume data is divided by using a plurality of parallel dividing lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216, / RTI > That is, a plurality of lines 5201, 5202, ..., and 5216 parallel to the cross section of the observation section C are displayed, but actually each of the division lines corresponds to a cross section that divides the ultrasonic volume data.

However, as opposed to appearing parallel to the viewing section, each of the sections dividing the ultrasound volume data may not be parallel, as shown in the first region 510. That is, each of the cross sections dividing the ultrasonic volume data may form a predetermined angle with the cross section of the observation cross section.

In other words, the cross-section for dividing the ultrasonic volume data may be divided horizontally so as to be parallel to the cross-section A, while the cross-section for dividing the ultrasonic volume data may have a cross- You may. In other words, the image processing unit 120 may divide the ultrasonic volume data such that the cross-sections are in contact with the observation cross-section.

In addition to the method shown in FIG. 5, there may be other methods of dividing the ultrasonic volume data, and another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

6 is a diagram illustrating a process in which an ultrasound device acquires a plurality of images and stores a selected image in association with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

5, the display unit 130 may display the observation step in the first area 610 in the screen 600 of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. [ Similarly, the display section 130 can display a plurality of division lines 6201, 6202, ..., and 6206 that divide the ultrasonic volume data based on the observation section in the second area 620, May display a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the plurality of division lines 6201, 6202, ..., 6206.

In Fig. 6, an LVOT (Left Ventricular Outflow Tract) view for the ultrasound volume data is shown as an observation step. The LVOT view is an observation step for observing the left ventricular outflow tract and corresponds to a B section image. The display unit 130 may display the determined observation step in the first area 610 of the screen 600. [ According to an embodiment, the display unit 130 may display the observation step decided by the image processing unit 120 in bold or in a different color so that the user can easily distinguish the determined observation step. In Fig. 6, the LVOT view 6103 is displayed in bold.

Also, in this embodiment, the image processing unit 120 can determine the reference point of the ultrasonic volume data from the 5-chamber view image corresponding to the LVOT view as the observation step.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the image processing unit 120 can determine the A cross section as the observation cross section. That is, since the LVOT view corresponds to the B cross section, the image corresponding to the LVOT view can be selected from a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the dividing lines appearing on the A cross section.

The 5-chamber view corresponds to the A-sectional image as in the 4-chamber view, and is an observation step that can observe the aorta in addition to the left / right atrium and left / right ventricle. In this embodiment, the image processing unit 120 can determine the center of the aorta observed in the five-chamber view as a reference point.

Subsequently, the image processing unit 120 may acquire a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data based on the determined observation plane and the reference point. That is, the image processing unit 120 can acquire a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasound volume data according to the plurality of division lines 6201, 6202, ..., and 6206 displayed in the second area 620 of the screen 600 have.

Unlike the dividing method described with reference to FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, a plurality of images can be obtained by dividing cross sections dividing ultrasonic volume data so that they intersect with each other around a reference point.

That is, the image processing unit 120 can divide the ultrasonic volume data such that a plurality of division lines 6201, 6202, ..., and 6206 intersect each other from the A cross section that is the observation section and center around the reference point. Since each of the dividing lines 6201, 6202, ..., and 6206 corresponds to the dividing section, the respective sections that divide the ultrasonic volume data intersect each other about the reference point.

As described above, since the ultrasound volume data is divided on the basis of the plurality of division lines 6201, 6202, ..., 6206 appearing on the A cross section, the plurality of images become the B cross section or the C cross section image, respectively. The display unit 130 may display images of cross-sections of the ultrasound volume data in the third area 630 of the screen 600. [

The process of matching the image selected by the external input signal among the plurality of images to the observation step and storing the selected image is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of matching an image selected by an external input signal among a plurality of images to an observation step according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

5 and 6, the display unit 130 displays a plurality of images obtained by dividing the ultrasound volume data, and the storage unit 110 observes the selected image among the plurality of images based on the external input signal, And can be stored. The contents displayed on the first area 710, the second area 720, and the third area 730 of the display unit 130 are generally similar to those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 .

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can repeatedly perform the processes described in Figs. 5 and 6 for a plurality of observation steps. That is, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 matches and stores images selected in the first observation step among a plurality of observation steps.

Then, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 selects the second observation step, which is the next observation step, and performs the same process as the first observation step for the second observation step. However, there is a difference in that a plurality of images are obtained by using the reference point, the observation section, and the division method matched in the second observation step.

After the selected image is matched and stored in the second observation step, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 performs the same process for the plurality of observation steps such as the third observation step and the fourth observation step, which are new observation steps. As described above, the order in which the observation step is selected may be determined according to a protocol previously input to the ultrasonic apparatus 100. [

For example, after the user selects one of a plurality of images for the four-chamber view 7104 and the ultrasound device 100 matches and stores the selected image 7301 for the four-chamber view 7104 , The 5-chamber view 7103 may be determined in the next observation step. Then, the storage unit 110 may store the selected image 7302 in the 5-chamber view 7103 based on the input received from the user among the plurality of images. In the same way, the ultrasound apparatus 100 may display a plurality of images for a main pulmonary artery view 7102, and may store images 7303 selected by an external input signal in a main pulmonary artery view .

On the other hand, the user can directly select the observation step. After saving the image for the third observation step, if the image for the first observation step is to be newly changed, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 may receive an external input for selecting the first observation step.

For example, consider the case where the first observation step is the 5-chamber view and the second observation step is the LVOT view. As described above with reference to FIG. 5, in order to acquire a plurality of images corresponding to the five-chamber view, which is the first observation step, the image processing unit 120 can use the C-section as the observation section. That is, the image processing unit 120 may determine the center of the descending aorta of the C section image as a reference point, and divide the ultrasound volume data to obtain a plurality of A sectional images.

After the storage unit 110 matches one of the acquired A cross sections to the five chamber view and stores the same, the controller 140 controls the image processing unit 120 to perform the second observation step To the LVOT view. The C-section image can be utilized as the observation plane while the image processing unit 120 determines the second observation step as the LVOT view. Further, the image processing unit 120 can determine a new reference point on the C section image. That is, the image processing unit 120 can determine a new reference point for the second observation step at the center of the aorta shown in the C sectional image.

As an example of the observation step, there are various observation steps in addition to the above-described four-chamber view and five-chamber view. 3 vessels & trachea view, LVOT / RVOT view (Left / Right Ventricular Outflow Tract view), and aortic arch view have been described above. In addition, ductal arch view, superior vena cava view, inferior vena cava view, and upper abdomen with stomach view are also observed. .

Through the repetition of the above-described processes, the ultrasound apparatus 100 can automatically match and store images selected by the user for various observation steps. This allows the user to efficiently diagnose the object without having to manually manipulate the ultrasound volume data for each of the various types of observation steps.

According to one embodiment, in the case of performing the process of changing the observation step and matching the images in the ultrasonic apparatus 100, in the case of the observation steps having the same kind of observation section, the display section 130 does not change the observation section The image can be displayed. For example, the four chamber view, the five chamber view, and the three vessel and trachy view are all observation steps corresponding to the A cross section, and the C cross section can be matched with the observation cross section. Accordingly, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can display only the lines 7101, 7102, 7103, and 7104 that are displayed in bold in the first area as the observation steps are sequentially changed, while maintaining the observation section 720 as it is have. According to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 does not need to unnecessarily change the observation step and observation step.

On the other hand, in the embodiment described above, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can determine the order of the plurality of observation steps according to the type of the observation section matched to the observation step. That is, when the ultrasonic apparatus 100 arranges observation steps of the same kind (for example, any one of the A / B / C cross-sections) in consecutive order, the change in displayed contents is minimized .

According to another embodiment, although not shown in FIG. 7, the display unit 130 may display the name of the observation step on the screen of the ultrasonic apparatus 100. FIG. For example, the display unit 130 may display the name of each observation step as text, in addition to displaying the observation step in the first area 710 as a picture. Accordingly, the user can accurately know what the currently determined observation step is in addition to the image for the observation step appearing in the first region 710 of the screen.

According to another embodiment, the display unit 130 may mark the images 7301, 7302, and 7303 selected by the external input signal for each observation step so as to be distinguished from other images. That is, the display unit 130 changes the saturation or color of the selected images 7301, 7302, and 7303 among the images displayed in the third area 730 of the screen, or changes the saturation or color of the selected images 7301, 7302, ) Is selected, or the name of the observation step or the like. Accordingly, in selecting an image for the current observation step, the user can select and refer to the marked image selected for the other observation step.

8 is a diagram illustrating a process of displaying an exemplary image together for an observation step in connection with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

8, the display unit 130 displays an example image for the determined observation step 8104, instead of displaying a plurality of dividing lines dividing the ultrasonic volume data in the second area 820 in the screen 800 . That is, the display unit 130 displays an example image stored in advance in the storage unit 110 for each observation step, and selects one of the plurality of images by referring to the case of the ideal ultrasound image for the selected observation step . The example image may be a real image obtained from the object, while it may be a simple image as shown in Fig.

8, the display unit 130 displays an example image for the four-chamber view in the second area 820, and the user refers to the example image to display the third area 830 in the third area 830. [ One of the plurality of images that best represents the four chamber view can be selected.

In Figure 8, the display 130 is shown as displaying an example image in a second area 840. [ However, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the dividing lines for dividing the ultrasonic volume data are displayed in the second areas 520, 620 and 720, and the dividing lines for dividing the ultrasonic volume data are displayed on the fourth areas (not shown) An image may be displayed. According to another embodiment, the display unit 130 may display a text 840 that the user can refer to on the screen 800 of the ultrasonic apparatus 100.

Prior to describing FIGS. 9 and 10, FIG. 11 is described with respect to a further embodiment. 11 shows an embodiment in which the display unit 130 displays the flowchart 1110 of the observation step together with the screen 1100 shown in FIG. That is, the display unit 130 can display the order in which the current observation step corresponds to the plurality of observation steps.

For example, when the four-chamber view, the five-chamber view, and the three-vessel view sequentially proceed as shown in FIG. 11, the display unit 130 may display such a sequence. Although not shown in FIG. 11, when the current observation step is a five-chamber view, the display unit 130 can visually distinguish and display an area corresponding to the five-chamber view as a rectangle, a color, or the like.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic device 100 may select another observation step by an external input signal. That is, when the current observation step is a 5-chamber view and the user desires to change the image stored and matched to the 4-chamber view, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 receives an external input signal such as an input for touching an area for the 4-chamber view can do. Accordingly, the ultrasonic apparatus 100 can change the current observation step to the four-chamber view, display again the images of the cross-section in which the volume data is divided, and store the new image in the four-chamber view.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the user can easily know in which order the current observation step corresponds in the entire observation step including a plurality of observation steps, and arbitrarily change the order of the observation step.

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a process of displaying an image stored together corresponding to an observation step and an observation step in connection with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to one embodiment, the display unit 130 may display an image stored with the observation step matching the observation step. If images selected by an external input signal for a plurality of observation steps are respectively stored, the display unit 130 may display a plurality of observation steps and images matched to each of the plurality of observation steps.

9, the display unit 130 displays four observation steps 910 while simultaneously displaying the images 911, 912, 913, and 914 stored in correspondence with the respective observation steps, Can be displayed together.

According to one embodiment, the display unit 130 displays a plurality of observation steps 910 and images 911, 912, 913, 914 together as shown in FIG. 9, Only the image for the selected observation step may be displayed.

That is, the display unit 130 does not display the plurality of images 911, 912, 913, and 914 from the beginning, but displays the images of any one of 1, 2, 3, and 4 When the observation step is selected, only the stored image corresponding to the selected observation step can be displayed in a larger size. Accordingly, the user can observe the stored image for the selected observation step at a larger size than when displaying a plurality of images.

According to another embodiment, in the course of displaying the observation step and the corresponding image, the control unit 140 causes the storage unit 110 to newly update the image corresponding to the observation step based on the received user input To be stored. That is, when the user determines that the stored image is inappropriate for the observation step and wants to store a new image, the control unit 140 controls the display unit 130 to display the image obtained by the image processing unit 120 A plurality of images can be displayed again.

For example, if the user wishes to change the stored image for the four chamber view, the user input may receive an external input signal from the user to reselect the image. Accordingly, the control unit 140 may control the image processing unit 120 to divide the ultrasonic volume data and display a plurality of images acquired for the four-chamber view again. The storage unit 110 may then store a new image for the four chamber view based on the external input signal.

Alternatively, the control unit 140 can control not only the observation step but also the data stored for the reference point and the observation section. That is, the control unit 140 may control the image processing unit 120 to determine a new reference point and an observation plane. According to another embodiment, the control unit 140 may determine the stored images again by matching to the entire observation step rather than one observation step.

10, the display unit 130 may display the images 1011, 1012, and 1013 stored in the viewing step 1010 and the viewing step in the same manner as in FIG.

In Fig. 9, the images stored in correspondence with the observation steps are the A-sectional images, which are the cross-sectional views in which the ultrasonic volume data is divided in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, in FIG. 10, the images stored corresponding to the observation steps are B-section or C-section images in which the ultrasonic volume data is divided in the vertical direction.

9 and 10, in the display unit 130 displaying the observation step and the corresponding images together, the display unit 130 displays an image corresponding to the observation step, It can be displayed based on whether the cross section corresponds to which cross section of the A / B / C cross section. In other words, the display unit 130 may collect and display the images having the same observation cross-section among the images stored corresponding to the observation step.

On the other hand, the above-described method can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer that can be created as a program that can be executed in a computer and operates the program using a computer-readable medium. Further, the structure of the data used in the above-described method can be recorded on a computer-readable medium through various means. Program storage devices that may be used to describe a storage device including executable computer code for carrying out the various methods of this disclosure should not be understood to include transient objects such as carrier waves or signals do. The computer readable medium includes a storage medium such as a magnetic storage medium (e.g., ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), optical reading medium (e.g., CD ROM, DVD, etc.).

In conventional ultrasonic apparatuses, in diagnosing a target object, it is sometimes impossible to efficiently diagnose according to the skill of the user. In particular, when the position and direction of the fetus are not constant as in the heart of a fetus, the diagnosis result of the subject varies frequently depending on the user. However, according to the embodiment described above in connection with the present disclosure, the user can automatically obtain the image for the observation step from the ultrasound volume data. This makes it possible to efficiently and conveniently diagnose the object in the ultrasonic diagnosis.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present disclosure is set forth in the following claims rather than the detailed description of the invention, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims (20)

Displaying in the first area in the screen the current observation step for diagnosing the object corresponds to which of the plurality of observation steps;
A dividing method for dividing the observation section, the reference point, and the ultrasonic volume data corresponding to the current observation step among the division methods for dividing the observation section, the reference point and the ultrasonic volume data matched for each of the plurality of observation steps in the second region in the screen ; And
Displaying a plurality of cross-sectional images in the third region in the screen, the plurality of cross-sectional images obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the dividing method, based on the observation cross-section and the reference point; And displaying the ultrasound image. The method according to claim 1,
And receiving an external input signal for selecting one of the plurality of cross-sectional images. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising the step of matching and storing the selected image to the current observation step. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the storing step stores location information of a cross-section on which the ultrasound volume data is divided to obtain the selected image together with the selected image. 3. The method of claim 2,
And marking and displaying the selected image so that the selected image among the plurality of sectional images is distinguished from the other sectional images in the third region. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the current observation step is selected in accordance with a predetermined order among the plurality of observation steps or is selected by an external input signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the observation section is any one of an A section, a B section, and a C section of a target included in the ultrasonic wave volume data. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the dividing method divides the cross sections dividing the ultrasonic volume data into a predetermined angle with the observation plane. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the dividing method divides the cross sections dividing the ultrasound volume data so that they intersect with each other around the reference point. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
Further comprising adjusting at least one of an interval and a number of cross sections dividing the ultrasound volume data. An observation step display module for displaying in a first area in the screen a current observation step for diagnosing a target object, in which sequence among a plurality of observation steps;
A dividing method for dividing the observation section, the reference point, and the ultrasonic volume data corresponding to the current observation step among the division methods for dividing the observation section, the reference point and the ultrasonic volume data matched for each of the plurality of observation steps in the second region in the screen A divided information display module for displaying the divided information; And
And a split screen display module for displaying images of a plurality of cross sections obtained by dividing the ultrasonic volume data according to the dividing method on the basis of the observation section and the reference point in a third region in the screen. 12. The method of claim 11,
And a user input unit for receiving an external input signal for selecting one of the plurality of cross-sectional images. 13. The method of claim 12,
And a storage unit for storing the selected image matching the current observation step. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the storage unit stores location information of a cross section on which the ultrasound volume data is divided to obtain the selected image together with the selected image. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the divided screen display module marks and displays the selected image in the third area so that the selected image among the plurality of sectional images is distinguished from other sectional images. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the current observation step is selected in accordance with a predetermined order among the plurality of observation steps or is selected by an external input signal. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the observation section is any one of an A section, a B section, and a C section of a target object included in the ultrasonic wave volume data. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the dividing method divides cross sections dividing the ultrasonic volume data into a predetermined angle with the observation plane. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the dividing method divides cross sections for dividing the ultrasonic volume data so that they cross each other about the reference point. 20. The method according to claim 18 or 19,
Further comprising an image processor for adjusting at least one of an interval and a number of cross sections for dividing the ultrasound volume data.

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