Velocity volume rendering with sign-based terrmination in ultrasound

摘要

Velocities are volume rendered in ultrasound. Early ray termination is used to avoid compositing velocities of different signs together. As long as the velocities are of the same sign, compositing continues from the viewer to a back of the volume being rendered. Once the velocity changes sign, compositing is reduced or terminated to avoid compositing velocities of different directions. The velocity rendering emphasizes the velocities of one direction closest to the viewer.

主权项

1. A method for volume rendering in ultrasound, the method comprising:
obtaining estimates of velocity at different locations distributed in three-dimensions in a patient, the estimates being signed for the velocity to and away from an ultrasound transducer; compositing the estimates along ray lines in a front to back direction relative to a view direction in three-dimensional rendering; during the compositing in the front to the back direction for at least one of the ray lines, detecting a change in sign of the estimates; reducing contribution of the estimates beyond the change in sign to the compositing, the reducing being in response to the detecting of the change; and generating a velocity image from the three-dimensional rendering.