CPC G06T 7/30 (2017.01) [A61B 8/0866 (2013.01); A61B 8/0875 (2013.01); A61B 8/463 (2013.01); A61B 8/483 (2013.01); A61B 8/5253 (2013.01); G06T 3/10 (2024.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10136 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20221 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30012 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30044 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
1. A computer-implemented method for visualization of an elongated anatomical structure (20) using ultrasound, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a plurality of 3D ultrasound image volumes, each image volume depicting at least a portion of an elongated anatomical structure having a curved longitudinal extension;
on each 3D ultrasound image volume, automatically or semi-automatically fitting a parametric curve to the depicted portion of the elongated anatomical structure along its longitudinal extension, the parametric curve being defined by curve parameters;
reformatting each 3D ultrasound image volume by applying a transformation which straightens the parametric curve along at least one axis, so as to generate a plurality of reformatted image volumes and reformatted parametric curves;
registering the reformatted image volumes with one another by determining the joining point of their respective parametric curves; and
fusing the reformatted image volumes with one another to yield a fused image depicting the whole elongated anatomical structure or a larger portion thereof than the 3D ultrasound image volumes.
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