Stereoscopically display three dimensional ultrasound imaging

United States Patent [19]

Schoolman

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US005488952A til] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,488,952 Feb. 6, 1996

[54] STEREOSCOPICALLY DISPLAY THREE DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING

[75] Inventor: Arnold Schoolman, Kansas City, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Schoolman Scientific Corp., Kansas City, Mo.

[21] Appl. No.: 250,933

[22] Filed: May 31,1994

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 91,452, Jul. 14, 1993, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 615,216, Nov. 19, 1990, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 334,706, Apr. 6, 1989, abandoned, which is a continuationin-part of Ser. No. 229,472, Aug. 8,1988, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 179,059, Apr. 8, 1988, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 935,066, Nov. 21, 1986, Pat. No. 4,737,972, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 671,436, Nov. 14,1984, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 616,385, Jun. 1, 1984, Pat. No. 4,559,555, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 351,917, Feb. 24, 1982, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI.6 G03C 9/08; A61B 8/00

[52] U.S. CI 178/660.070; 128/916

[58] Field of Search 364/413.22,413.25;

348/42, 51, 53, 46; 128/660.04, 916, 653.1, 660.01, 660.05; 351/201

[56] References Cited

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A stereoscopically displayed three dimensional ultrasound imaging system derives image data from an ultrasound imaging apparatus including a two dimensional ultrasound transducer array, reconstructs the image data into a three dimensional model, and displays right and left stereoscopic three dimensional image components of the model on corresponding right and left video display devices of a stereoscopic viewing unit. The system includes a system computer interfaced to the imaging apparatus and a pair of image channels, each including a three dimensional display processor, and a video display device. The three dimensional display processors receive polygon image data, reconstruct it into a three dimensional form, and select image data representing a three dimensional view from a selected perspective. The system computer controls the display processors to present mutually angularly displaced views of the same three dimensional image to form the stereoscopic image components.

31 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets

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