Method and apparatus for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of biopsy needle

US6048312A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Syed Omar Ishrak · Los Gatos, US
• Mir Said Seyed-Bolorforosh · Brookfield, US
• William Thomas Hatfield · Schenectady, US
• Todd Michael Tillman · West Milwaukee, US
• Brian Peter Geiser · Hartland, US
• Gregory R. Bashford · Lincoln, US
• Michael J. Washburn · New Berlin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 11, 2000
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S128/916
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of a needle-like instrument, such as a biopsy needle, inserted in a human body. The instrument is visualized by transmitting ultrasound beams toward the instrument and then detecting the echo signals using a linear array of transducer elements. The problem of ultrasound being reflected from a biopsy needle in a direction away from the transducer array is solved by steering the transmitted ultrasound beams to increase the angle at which the beams impinge upon the biopsy needle. Ideally the ultrasound beams are perpendicular to the biopsy needle. This increases the system's sensitivity to the needle because the reflections from the needle are directed closer to the transducer array. This can be accomplished using either the B mode or the color flow mode of an ultrasound imaging system. The acquired data for multiple two-dimensional image frames is gathered in memory to form a data volume, which is then processed to form a three-dimensional image (by projection) or a two-dimensional slice taken at an angle through the data volume. In particular, a two-dimensional slice which is coplanar with the inserted biopsy needle …