Three-dimensional spatial compounding of ultrasound images.
One of the most promising applications of 3-D ultrasound lies in the visualization and volume estimation of internal 3-D structures. Unfortunately, the quality of the ultrasound data can be severely degraded by artefacts and speckle, making automatic analysis of the 3-D data sets very difficult. In this paper we investigate the use of 3-D spatial compounding to reduce speckle. We develop a new statistical theory to predict the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio with increased levels of compounding, and verify the predictions empirically. We also investigate how registration errors can affect automatic volume estimation of structures within the compounded 3-D data set. Having established the need to correct these errors, we present a novel reconstruction algorithm which uses landmarks to register each B-scan accurately as it is inserted into the voxel array. In a series of in vitro and in vivo trials, we demonstrate that 3-D spatial compounding is very effective for improving the signal-to-noise ratio, but correction of registration errors is essential.
Rohling
R
R
Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. rnr20@eng.cam.ac.uk
Gee
A
A
Berman
L
L
D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*