Region of interest methods and systems for ultrasound imaging

Abstract

In one embodiment, at least one visual characteristic from a selected image is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images from a plurality of heart cycles. In another embodiment, motion correction is performed on ultrasound images that are automatically selected from a plurality of ultrasound images associated with the same phase of the heart cycle. In yet another embodiment, ultrasound images are automatically selected from a set of images based on a time interval that is within a tolerance range from a reference phase of the heart cycle. In another embodiment, a stored user-preference of a phase of the heart cycle is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images. In yet another embodiment, a user-defined region of interest is placed on an ultrasound image associated with a selected phase of a heart cycle.

1 . A method for automatically selecting an ultrasound image from a set of ultrasound images, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of sets of ultrasound images associated with a respective plurality of heart cycles;    (b) selecting a first ultrasound image from a first set of ultrasound images associated with a first heart cycle; and    (c) automatically selecting an ultrasound image from each of the other sets of ultrasound images by comparing at least one visual characteristic of the first ultrasound image with at least one visual characteristic of the ultrasound images in each of the other sets.    
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein (c) comprises determining which ultrasound image in each of the other sets comprises at least one visual characteristic that most-closely matches the at least one visual characteristic of the first ultrasound image.  
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound images are of a heart, and wherein the at least one visual characteristic comprises a shape of the heart.  
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound images are of a heart comprising a valve, and wherein the at least one visual characteristic comprises a state of the valve.  
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (d) displaying the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c).    
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 7 , wherein (d) further comprises displaying the ultrasound image selected in (b).  
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (d) performing a quantification analysis on the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c).    
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein (d) comprises performing a quantification analysis on the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c) and the ultrasound image selected in (b).  
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (d) generating a set of time intensity curves using the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c).    
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (d) performing motion correction on the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c).    
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 12 , wherein (d) comprises performing motion correction on the ultrasound images automatically selected in (c) and the ultrasound image selected in (b).  
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first ultrasound image is selected by a user from a plurality of displayed ultrasound images.  
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first ultrasound image is automatically selected by identifying which image from the first set is associated with a phase of the heart cycle indicated by a stored user-preference.  
   
   
       16 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising placing at least one region of interest on at least one of the first image and an automatically-selected image.  
   
   
       17 . A method for motion correcting a set of ultrasound images associated with a phase of a heart cycle, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of sets of ultrasound images associated with a respective plurality of heart cycles;    (b) selecting a phase of a heart cycle;    (c) for each of the plurality of sets, automatically selecting an ultrasound image that is associated with the selected phase of the heart cycle; and    (d) performing motion correction on the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the motion correction comprises a sum of absolute differences (SAD) technique.  
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 17  further comprising placing a region of interest on an image associated with the selected phase before (d), and wherein (d) comprises changing the location of the region of interest.  
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the motion correction registers ultrasound images together.  
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by a stored user-preference.  
   
   
       22 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by user selection of one of a plurality of displayed ultrasound images, each of the displayed ultrasound images being associated with a respective phase of the heart cycle.  
   
   
       23 . The invention of  claim 22 , wherein the user-selected image comprises at least one visual characteristic, and wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing the at least one visual characteristic of the user-selected ultrasound image with at least one visual characteristic of the ultrasound images in each of the plurality of sets.  
   
   
       24 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing (1) a time interval between a reference phase in the heart cycle and a phase associated with an ultrasound images in a set with (2) a time interval between the reference phase and the selected phase.  
   
   
       25 . The invention of  claim 24 , wherein the reference phase comprises a preceding R-wave.  
   
   
       26 . The invention of  claim 24 , wherein the reference phase comprises a succeeding R-wave.  
   
   
       27 . The invention of  claim 24 , wherein the reference phase comprises a T-wave.  
   
   
       28 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       29 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       30 . The invention of  claim 17  further comprising displaying the ultrasound images associated with the selected phase.  
   
   
       31 . The invention of  claim 30 , wherein the displaying is performed before the motion correction in (c).  
   
   
       32 . The invention of  claim 30 , wherein the displaying is performed after the motion correction in (c).  
   
   
       33 . The invention of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 (e) performing a quantification analysis on the motion-corrected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       34 . The invention of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 (e) generating a set of time intensity curves using the motion-corrected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       35 . The invention of  claim 17  further comprising placing at least one region of interest on an automatically-selected ultrasound image.  
   
   
       36 . A method for motion correcting a set of ultrasound images associated with a phase of a heart cycle, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of ultrasound images associated with a single phase of a heart cycle; and    (b) performing motion correction on the plurality of ultrasound images.    
   
   
       37 . The invention of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound images comprise gated images.  
   
   
       38 . The invention of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       39 . The invention of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       40 . The invention of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of ultrasound images are manually selected by a user from a real-time image clip.  
   
   
       41 . The invention of  claim 36 , wherein the motion correction comprises a sum of absolute differences (SAD) technique.  
   
   
       42 . A method for automatically selecting ultrasound images associated with a phase of a heart cycle, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of sets of ultrasound images associated with a respective plurality of heart cycles, wherein each ultrasound image is characterized by a time interval between an acquisition time of the ultrasound image and a reference phase in the heart cycle;    (b) selecting a phase of the heart cycle, wherein the selected phase is characterized by a time interval between the selected phase and the reference phase; and    (c) automatically selecting a plurality of ultrasound images from each heart cycle that are characterized by a time interval that is within a tolerance range of the time interval between the selected phase and the reference phase.    
   
   
       43 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the automatically-selected plurality of ultrasound images are from the diastole portion of the heart cycle.  
   
   
       44 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the tolerance range varies with the heart cycle.  
   
   
       45 . The invention of  claim 44 , wherein the tolerance range is greater for diastole than it is for systole.  
   
   
       46 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the reference phase comprises a preceding R-wave.  
   
   
       47 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the reference phase comprises a succeeding R-wave.  
   
   
       48 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the reference phase comprises a T-wave.  
   
   
       49 . The invention of  claim 42  further comprising; 
 (d) motion correcting the automatically-selected plurality of ultrasound images.    
   
   
       50 . The invention of  claim 42  further comprising: 
 (d) displaying the automatically-selected plurality of ultrasound images.    
   
   
       51 . The invention of  claim 42  further comprising: 
 (d) performing a quantification analysis on the automatically-selected plurality of ultrasound images.    
   
   
       52 . The invention of  claim 42  further comprising: 
 (d) generating a set of time intensity curves using the automatically-selected plurality of ultrasound images.    
   
   
       53 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by a stored user-preference.  
   
   
       54 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by user selection of one of a plurality of displayed ultrasound images, each of the displayed ultrasound images being associated with a respective phase of the heart cycle.  
   
   
       55 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       56 . The invention of  claim 42 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       57 . The invention of  claim 42  further comprising placing at least one region of interest on an automatically-selected ultrasound image.  
   
   
       58 . A method for automatically selecting ultrasound images associated with a phase of a heart cycle, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of sets of ultrasound images associated with a respective plurality of heart cycles;    (b) retrieving a stored user-preference of a phase of the heart cycle; and    (c) for each of the plurality of sets of ultrasound images, automatically selecting an ultrasound image that is associated with the phase specified in the stored user-preference.    
   
   
       59 . The invention of  claim 58  further comprising; 
 (d) performing motion correction on the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       60 . The invention of  claim 58  further comprising; 
 (d) displaying the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       61 . The invention of  claim 58  further comprising; 
 (d) performing a quantification analysis on the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       62 . The invention of  claim 58  further comprising; 
 (d) generating a set of time intensity curves using the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       63 . The invention of  claim 58 , wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing at least one visual characteristic of an ultrasound image associated with the phase specified in the stored user preference with at least one visual characteristic of the ultrasound images in each of the plurality of sets.  
   
   
       64 . The invention of  claim 58 , wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing (1) a time interval between a reference phase in the heart cycle and a phase associated with an ultrasound images in a set with (2) a time interval between the reference phase and the phase specified in the stored user preference.  
   
   
       65 . The invention of  claim 58 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       66 . The invention of  claim 58 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       67 . The invention of  claim 58  further comprising placing at least one region of interest on an automatically-selected image.  
   
   
       68 . A method for automatically selecting ultrasound images associated with a phase of a heart cycle, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of sets of ultrasound images associated with a respective plurality of heart cycles;    (b) selecting a phase of a heart cycle;    (c) for each of the plurality of sets, automatically selecting an ultrasound image that is associated with the selected phase of the heart cycle; and    (d) placing at least one user-defined region of interest on an ultrasound image associated with the selected phase of the heart cycle.    
   
   
       69 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the at least one user-defined region of interest comprises more than nine pixels.  
   
   
       70 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the at least one user-defined region of interest comprises less than an entire imaged tissue.  
   
   
       71 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the at least one user-defined region of interest comprises less than an entire myocardium.  
   
   
       72 . The invention of  claim 68  further comprising performing motion correction on the automatically-selected ultrasound images.  
   
   
       73 . The invention of  claim 72 , wherein the motion correction is performed before (d).  
   
   
       74 . The invention of  claim 72 , wherein the motion correction is performed after (d).  
   
   
       75 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by a stored user-preference.  
   
   
       76 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the phase of the heart cycle is selected in (b) by user selection of one of a plurality of displayed ultrasound images, each of the displayed ultrasound images being associated with a respective phase of the heart cycle.  
   
   
       77 . The invention of  claim 76 , wherein the user-selected image comprises at least one visual characteristic, and wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing the at least one visual characteristic of the user-selected image with at least one visual characteristic of the ultrasound images in each of the plurality of sets.  
   
   
       78 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the ultrasound images are automatically selected in (c) by comparing (1) a time interval between a reference phase in the heart cycle and a phase associated with an ultrasound images in a set with (2) a time interval between the reference phase and the selected phase.  
   
   
       79 . The invention of  claim 78 , wherein the reference phase comprises a preceding R-wave.  
   
   
       80 . The invention of  claim 78 , wherein the reference phase comprises a succeeding R-wave.  
   
   
       81 . The invention of  claim 78 , wherein the reference phase comprises a T-wave.  
   
   
       82 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise real-time images.  
   
   
       83 . The invention of  claim 68 , wherein the ultrasound images comprise contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.  
   
   
       84 . The invention of  claim 68  further comprising displaying the automatically-selected ultrasound images.  
   
   
       85 . The invention of  claim 68  further comprising: 
 (e) performing a quantification analysis on the automatically-selected ultrasound images.    
   
   
       86 . The invention of  claim 68  further comprising: 
 (e) generating a time-intensity curve for the at lease one region of interest.    
   
   
       87 . A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system comprising: 
 a transducer;    a beamformer in communication with the transducer;    a processor in communication with the beamformer; and    a display device in communication with the processor;    wherein the processor is operative to perform one or more of the methods in claims  1 ,  17 ,  36 ,  42 ,  58 , or  68 .    
   
   
       88 . An ultrasound image review station comprising: 
 a display device;    a user interface device; and    a processor in communication with the display device and the user interface device, wherein the processor is operative to perform one or more of the methods in claims  1 ,  17 ,  36 ,  42 ,  58 , or  68 .