THREE DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC SCANNING WITH LIVE SUBVOLUMES

摘要

A three dimensional ultrasonic imaging system includes a matrix array transducer which is capable of scanning beams over a maximal volumetric region. The array transducer is operable to selectively scan one of a plurality of subvolumes of the maximal volumetric region at a real time scanning rate such that a live 3D image of the subvolume is processed and displayed. A user control is actuated to step the system through the scanning of a sequence different subvolumes. In an illustrated embodiment the maximal volumetric region encompasses the heart, and the system can be stepped through the scanning and display of live 3D images of front, center, and back subvolumes of the heart.