Method and system for enhanced ultrasound image visualization by detecting and replacing acoustic shadow artifacts
US10540769B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30012
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasound probe acquires ultrasound images at different directions, such as by performing beam steering. A processor analyzes the ultrasound images to detect acoustic shadow artifacts. The processor marks the acoustic shadow artifacts detected in one or more regions of one or more of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor constructs a compound image based on unmarked regions of the analyzed ultrasound images. The processor presents the constructed compound image at a display system. The processor applies an image recognition technique to identify whether a region of an ultrasound image includes a dark area. The processor compares image data of the region corresponding with a same location in each of the ultrasound images and detects the acoustic shadow artifacts in the region having the identified dark area if at least one of the analyzed ultrasound images does not include the dark area at the region corresponding with the same location.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.