Three dimensional mapping display system for diagnostic ultrasound machines and method

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method where the ultrasound transducer position registration is automated, calculates the position of each pixel in the ultrasound image in reference to the predetermined anatomical reference points (AR) and can store the information on demand. The graphic interface associated with the ultrasound image allows for the instant display of selected targets position coordinates relative to anatomical reference points, in the ultrasound images. This system would significantly reduce the ultrasound examination time, by eliminating the time consuming manual labeling of images and speeding up the target finding at subsequent examinations, enhance correlation capability with other diagnostic imaging modalities like CT scans, MRI, mammograms, decrease human errors and fatigue, provide an easy, uniform, method of communicating the target position among healthcare providers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image registration system comprising:
 an imaging probe configured to acquire image data during an examination;   an anatomical reference marker configured to identify an anatomical reference point on a patient during the examination; and   a processor programmed to:
 record a position of the anatomical reference marker relative to the patient; 
 record a position of the imaging probe relative to the patient; 
 continuously track a realtime location of the anatomical reference marker during the examination; 
 continuously track a realtime location of the imaging probe during the examination; and 
 display the location of the imaging probe as an overlay on a graphic diagram of the patient during the examination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 record a position of a target in the patient relative to the anatomical reference marker; and 
 display the position of the target on the graphic diagram of the patient. 
 
     
     
         3 . The image registration system of  claim 2  wherein the processor is further programmed to simultaneously display the location of the target as an overlay on a medical image of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the anatomical reference marker comprises a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the anatomical reference marker comprises one of an optical marker and an infrared marker. 
     
     
         6 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the imaging probe comprises a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         7 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to display the location of the imaging probe as at least one of a position in reference to the anatomical reference marker and a body axis of the patient in an hour format, a position in reference to the anatomical reference marker and the body axis of the patient in degrees, and a longitudinal distance from the anatomical reference marker. 
     
     
         8 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to display the location of the imaging probe as a moving icon on the graphic diagram of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The image registration system of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic sensor coupled to imaging probe; and
 wherein the processor is further programmed to register a position of the magnetic sensor in relation to a scanning plane of the imaging probe and a center of the imaging probe. 
 
     
     
         10 . The image registration system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 calculate a position of each pixel of the image data in reference to the anatomical reference marker and a body axis of the patient; and 
 correct the image data based on the calculated pixel positions to account for movement of the patient during the examination. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 defining a position of an anatomical reference point on a patient;   identifying a position of an imaging probe of an imaging system relative to the patient;   acquiring image data from the patient using the imaging probe during a first examination;   reconstructing an image of the patient from the image data, the image comprising a plurality of pixels;   calculating a position of each of the plurality of pixels in the image in reference to the anatomical reference point and the patient;   identifying a target within the image; and   displaying coordinates of the target relative to the position of the anatomical reference point and the patient on a display.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 detecting motion of the anatomical reference point during the first examination; and 
 generating a corrected medical image based on the detected motion of the anatomical reference point. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising aligning the imaging probe with a plane of the patient to register the orientation of the imaging probe relative to the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising continuously displaying at least one of a location of the anatomical reference point and a location of the imaging probe during acquisition of image data on the display. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 monitoring a distance between the anatomical reference point and the imaging probe; and 
 detecting and displaying an out-of-range indicator if the monitored distance exceeds a threshold. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising displaying the target on an image reconstructed from image data acquired during a second examination. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein displaying coordinates of the target comprises displaying coordinates in an hour format. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising displaying a cumulative coverage area of the imaging probe for the first examination on a body diagram of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 an ultrasound system configured to acquire ultrasound data from a patient and reconstruct an image from the ultrasound data, the ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound transducer;   a first sensor coupled to the ultrasound transducer;   a second sensor coupleable to the patient; and   a tracking system coupled to the first and second sensors, the tracking system comprising:
 a display; and 
 a processor programmed to:
 register the first sensor to the second sensor at the beginning of an examination; 
 continuously monitor a location of the ultrasound transducer via the first sensor during the examination; 
 continuously monitor a location of an anatomical reference point on the patient via the second sensor during the examination; 
 output the monitored location of the ultrasound transducer to the display in realtime; and 
 record a position of the plurality of pixels of the image in relation to the monitored locations of the ultrasound transducer and the anatomical reference point in a database. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the display further comprises:
 a reconstructed ultrasound image of a region of interest of the patient; 
 a body part diagram of the region of interest; 
 a first marker overlaid on the reconstructed ultrasound image, the first marker indicating the location of a first target within the region of interest; and 
 a second marker overlaid on the body part diagram, the second marker indicating the location of the first target on the body part diagram.