FREE-HAND THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING WITH POSITION AND ANGLE DETERMINATION SENSORS

摘要

A freehand 3-D imaging system includes an integrated sensor configuration that provides position and orientation of each 2D imaging plane used for 3-D reconstruction without the need for external references. The position sensors communicate with the imaging system using either wired and wireless means. At least one translational and one angular sensor or three translational sensors acquire data utilized to compute position tags associated with 2D ultrasound image scan frames. The sensors can be built into the ultrasound transducer or can be reversibly connected and therefore retrofitted to existing imaging probes for freehand 3D imaging.