METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGE ACQUISITION

摘要

Method for ultrasound image acquisition, comprising the following steps:•a) defining a fixed frame of reference, the origin of coordinates being set within a transmitter of a tracking system;•b) detecting position and orientation of a probe with respect to said frame of reference by means of a probe sensor of said tracking system coupled to said probe;•c) detecting position and orientation of a body to be imaged with respect to said frame of reference by means of a reference sensor of said tracking system coupled to said body;•d) calculating position and orientation of said probe with respect to said body;•e) acquiring a set of 2D images constituting a 3D image in Doppler mode by transmitting an ultrasonic beam into said body and receiving echographic signals from said body by said probe;•f) iterating points b) to e) for a predetermined number of 3D image acquisitions;•g) generating a panoramic 3D image by combining the 2D images of the acquired 3D images on the basis of the information of position and orientation of said probe with respect to said body calculated for each 2D image acquisition.