Ultrasound imaging method

US11406351B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Arne Ewald · Hamburg, DE
• Irina Waechter-Stehle · Hamburg, DE
• Frank Michael Weber · Hamburg, DE
• Tobias Wissel · Lübeck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30048
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided is a method (200) for generating a combined anatomical model of a heart. The method comprises receiving (220) a non-contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound image of a left ventricular region of the heart and receiving (240) a contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound image of the left ventricular region of the heart. Image registration (260) is performed on the respective non-contrast agent-enhanced and contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound images, such that the respective images are aligned. Combined segmentation (270) of the aligned non-contrast agent-enhanced and contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound images is then carried out to generate the combined anatomical model. The combined segmentation (270) uses features of both of the aligned non-contrast agent-enhanced and contrast agent-enhanced ultrasound images as target points. Further provided is a processor arrangement adapted to implement the method and an ultrasound system comprising the processor arrangement. A computer program product comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the method is also provided.