Virtual volumetric phantom for ultrasound hands-on training system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a virtual volumetric ultrasound phantom to construct an ultrasound training system from any ultrasound system (hereafter 'the ultrasound training system'). The ultrasound system and method retrieve and display previously stored ultrasound data to simulate an ultrasound scanning session. A real ultrasound system acquires an image of an ultrasound phantom. The ultrasound image comprises ultrasound echo data for an image/scan plane representing a cross-section or partial volume of the ultrasound phantom. The ultrasound image is analyzed to identify image attributes that are unique for each image/scan plane. A portion of the previously stored data that corresponds to the image attributes is retrieved and displayed. In one embodiment, actual position and orientation of the acquired image/scan plane with respect to a known structure within the ultrasound phantom are determined by processing the image/scan plane to obtain a number of geometrical image parameters. Position and orientation of the image/scan plane are calculated from the image parameters using formulas based on a known three dimensional structure within the phantom. The determination of actual image/scan plane position and orientation may be enhanced using image de-correlation techniques. Retrieval of the stored data may be based upon the calculated position and orientation or on the obtained image parameters. In another embodiment of the present invention, relative changes in image/scan plane position and orientation with respect to an initial reference position and orientation are determined by processing successive acquired ultrasound images using image de-correlation techniques. In another embodiment of the present invention, the identity of each pixel or voxel within the image/scan plane is determined and a set of corresponding pixels or voxels of stored data are retrieved for display.