Methods and systems for aligning views of image data

US6500123B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Volumetrics Medical Imaging, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Richard Holloway · Chapel Hill, US
• John Stefanski · Raleigh, US
• Donald K. McAlister · Apex, US
• Olaf T. von Ramm · Durham, US
• David W. Smith · Scottsdale, US
• Stephen M. Grenon · Durham, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 31, 2002
• Expiry date: Nov 6, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B6/504
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A first ultrasound dataset that represents an object in a first coordinate system can be acquired at a first time. Three landmarks of the object can be located in the first ultrasound dataset to define a second coordinate system. A first transform from the first to the second coordinate system can be determined for the first ultrasound dataset. A second ultrasound dataset that represents the object in the first coordinate system can be acquired at a second time. The same three landmarks in the second ultrasound dataset can be located to define a third coordinate system. A second transform from the first to the third coordinate systems can be determined for the second ultrasound dataset.