Method for generating anatomical M-mode displays

Abstract

A method for generating anatomical M-Mode displays for ultrasonic investigation of living biological structures during movement of the structure, for example a heart function, employing an ultrasonic transducer ( 21 ) comprises the acquisition of a time series of 2D or 3D ultrasonic images ( 22 ), arranging said time series so as to constitute data sets, providing at least one virtual M-Mode line ( 23 ) co-registered with said data sets, subjecting said data sets to computer processing on the basis of said at least one virtual M-Mode line, whereby interpolation along said at least one virtual M-Mode line is effected, and displaying the resulting computed anatomical M-Mode display ( 24 ) on a display unit.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method for generating anatomical M-Mode displays in ultrasonic investigation of living biological structures during movement employing an ultrasonic transducer the method comprising the steps of: 
       acquiring a time series of ultrasonic images;  
       arranging said time series so as to constitute data sets obtained by multiple ultrasound beams;  
       providing at least one virtual M-Mode line positioned in relationship to said data sets so as not to coincide with any ultrasonic beam direction of said transducer;  
       subjecting said data sets to computer processing on the basis of said at least one virtual M-Mode line, whereby interpolation along said at least one virtual M-Mode line is effected using values from said multiple ultrasound beams; and  
       displaying the resulting computed anatomical M-Mode display on a display unit.  
     
     
       2. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the step of moving the position and orientation of said at least one virtual M-Mode line in response to rhythmic movement of the biological structure. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim  2 , further comprising the step of associating a reference point with said ultrasonic images and fixing a corresponding reference point at a chosen vertical coordinate in the resulting anatomical M-Mode display based upon said reference point. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim  3 , employed for investigating the left ventricle wall of the heart, the method further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images so as to represent a differential time evolution of the cardiac cycle, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       5. The method according to claim  3 , further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images limited to the difference between two image frames, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       6. The method according to claim  3 , further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images so as to represent a time interval, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       7. The method according to claim  1 , employed for investigating the left ventricle wall of the heart, the method further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images so as to represent a differential time evolution of the cardiac cycle, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       8. The method according to claim  7 , further comprising the step of measuring local or global thickening of said left ventricle wall along said at least one virtual M-Mode line and utilizing the result of the measurement for said color encoding. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim  7 , further comprising the step of measuring temporal intensity variations along said at least one virtual M-Mode line and utilizing the result of the measurement for said color encoding. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim  7 , further including the step of determining the direction of said at least one virtual M-Mode line as the direction determined in the distance transform from an arbitrary position to the closest position on the left ventricle wall. 
     
     
       11. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images limited to the difference between two image frames, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       12. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the steps of: 
       computing anatomical M-Modes associated with each position on the left ventricle wall surface in ultrasonic images so as to represent a time interval, and  
       characterizing each of the computed anatomical M-Modes for color encoding at each said position on the left ventricle wall surface.  
     
     
       13. The method according to claim  12 , further comprising the step of measuring local or global thickening of said left ventricle wall along said at least one virtual M-Mode line and utilizing the result of the measurement for said color encoding. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim  12 , further comprising the step of measuring temporal intensity variations along said at least one virtual M-Mode line and utilizing the result of the measurement for said color encoding. 
     
     
       15. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the step of subjecting the result of said computer processing with interpolation to image processing for edge enhancement, thus producing said resulting computed anatomical M-Mode display. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim  1 , wherein the step of acquiring a time series of ultrasonic images occurs after a desired virtual M-Mode line has been defined, such that only the ultrasound data necessary to generate the said virtual M-Mode line are acquired, thereby increasing the time-resolution of said time series and hence the said computed anatomical M-Mode display. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the step of moving the position and orientation of said at least one virtual M-Mode line in response to rhythmic movement of the biological structure. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim  1 , further comprising the step of associating a reference point with said ultrasonic images and fixing a corresponding reference point at a chosen vertical coordinate in the resulting anatomical M-Mode display based upon said reference point. 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim  1 , wherein said time series of ultrasonic images is three dimensional. 
     
     
       20. An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising: 
       
         a memory to store ultrasonic information associated with a set of ultrasound beams; and  
       
         a computer processing device, coupled to said memory, said processing device to generate a virtual M - mode line that is distinct from said ultrasound beams, and to generate image data based on said M - Mode line.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim  20 , wherein said virtual M- mode line is non - coincident with said set of ultrasound beams.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim  21 , further comprising: 
       
         a transducer, coupled to said memory, to provide said ultrasonic information associated with said set of ultrasound beams. 
       
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim  21 , further comprising: 
       
         a display, coupled to said processing device, to display an image based on said image data. 
       
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim  23 , wherein said image includes color encoded information, based on a predetermined variable. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim  24 , wherein said predetermined variable depends on temporal variation along said virtual M- mode line.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim  24 , wherein said predetermined variable depends on a thickness of an anatomical structure. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim  26 , wherein said structure comprises an anatomical structure having motion. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim  21 , wherein said ultrasonic information comprises a time series of ultrasonic information. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim  21 , wherein said processing device is operable to vary at least one of a position and an orientation of said virtual M- mode line.   
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim  29 , wherein said processing device is further operable to vary at least one of said position and said orientation of said virtual M- mode line based on motion of a structure indicated by said ultrasonic information.   
     
     
       31. A system for providing ultrasound imaging, said system comprising: 
       
         a first means for providing ultrasonic information based on a set of ultrasound beams; and  
       
         a second means for generating image data based at least in part on a virtual M - mode line means which is distinct from said ultrasound beams.   
     
     
       32. The system of claim  31 , wherein: 
       
         said first means includes a transducer means for generating said set of ultrasound beams upon which said ultrasonic information is based; and  
       
         said M - mode line which is non - coincident with said set of ultrasound beams.   
     
     
       33. The system of claim  31 , further comprising: 
       
         a display means for displaying an image associated with said image data. 
       
     
     
       34. The system of claim  33 , wherein said image includes color encoded information, based on a predetermined variable. 
     
     
       35. The system of claim  34 , wherein said predetermined variable depends on temporal variation with respect to said virtual reference means. 
     
     
       36. The system of claim  34 , wherein said predetermined variable depends on a thickness of an anatomical structure. 
     
     
       37. The system of claim  31 , wherein said ultrasonic information comprises a time series of ultrasonic information. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim  31 , wherein said second means comprises means for varying at least one of a position and an orientation of said virtual M- mode line means.   
     
     
       39. The system of claim  38 , wherein said second means provides for varying at least one of said position and said orientation of said virtual M- mode line means based on motion of a structure indicated by said ultrasonic information.   
     
     
       40. A method for use in an ultrasound imaging system, said method comprising: 
       
         storing ultrasonic data associated with a set of ultrasonic beams; and  
       
         generating a virtual M - mode line to generate image data based on said ultrasonic data, wherein said virtual M - mode line is distinct from said set of ultrasonic beams.   
     
     
       41. The method of claim  40 , further comprising: 
       
         displaying an image based on an interpolation of said ultrasonic data along said reference. 
       
     
     
       42. The method of claim  41 , further comprising: 
       
         color encoding said image based on a predetermined criteria. 
       
     
     
       43. The method of claim  42 , wherein said predetermined criteria is associated with a temporal intensity variation with respect to said virtual reference, which comprises a virtual M- mode line.   
     
     
       44. The method of claim  42 , wherein said predetermined criteria is associated with thickening of an anatomical structure. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim  40 , wherein said virtual M- mode line non - coincident with said set of ultrasound beams.   
     
     
       46. The method of claim  40 , further comprising: 
       
         acquiring a time series of ultrasonic information; and  
       
       
         arranging said time series of ultrasonic information to generate said ultrasonic data, which represents data sets obtained by said set of ultrasonic beams. 
       
     
     
       47. The method of claim  46 , wherein said time series of ultrasonic information is three- dimensional  (   3 D ). 
     
     
       48. The method of claim  40 , further comprising: 
         moving at least one of a position and orientation of said virtual M - mode line.   
     
     
       49. The method of claim  48 , wherein moving said at least one of said position and orientation of said virtual M- mode line depends on movement of an object represented by said ultrasonic data.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim  40 , further comprising: 
       
         performing edge enhancement image processing upon said ultrasonic data; and  
       
         displaying an image based on said edge enhanced ultrasonic data, said image representing an interpolation of said ultrasonic data along said virtual M - mode line.