KR-20260067995-A - Lesion characterization device using 3D ultrasound image and lesion characterization method thereof

KR20260067995AKR 20260067995 AKR20260067995 AKR 20260067995AKR-20260067995-A

Abstract

A lesion characterization device using a three-dimensional ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a processor that sets a three-dimensional analysis area based on an ultrasound B-mode (Brightness mode) image or an ultrasound C-scan (cross section-scan) image in a three-dimensional ultrasound image, moves the three-dimensional analysis area and performs a quantitative analysis based on a lesion signal and a surrounding signal included in the three-dimensional analysis area, and reconstructs the three-dimensional ultrasound image to indicate the difference between the lesion signal and the surrounding signal by mapping a numerical value according to the quantitative analysis to each voxel of the three-dimensional analysis area.

Inventors

김철홍
김현희
박은우

Assignees

포항공과대학교 산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251030
Priority Date: 20241106

Claims (11)

A storage unit that stores at least one instruction; and It includes a processor that performs analysis by executing the above command, The above processor records a three-dimensional ultrasound image in the storage unit, and A first physical quantity for each center position of the above 3D ultrasound image is replaced with a second physical quantity reflecting surrounding information of the center position to generate a reconstructed image mapped to each position, and A lesion characterization device that provides lesion characterization information based on the above-mentioned reconstructed image.
In paragraph 1, It further includes a display section, The above processor is a lesion characterization device that displays the above-described reconstructed image on the display unit in an ultrasound B-mode (Brightness mode) image or ultrasound C-scan (cross section-scan) image manner.
In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Receive B-mode ultrasound signals scanned multiple times along a direction perpendicular to the B-mode image surface, and A lesion characterization device that generates a three-dimensional ultrasound image by setting coordinates corresponding to the scan direction for each of the above B-mode ultrasound signals.
In paragraph 1, The above processor is, A B-mode ultrasound signal is received by scanning a B-mode image multiple times at predetermined time intervals, and A lesion characterization device that generates a three-dimensional ultrasound image by setting time axis coordinates corresponding to the time interval for each of the above B-mode ultrasound signals.
In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Receive an ultrasonic RF signal and perform IQ demodulation to generate first processing data, and Beamforming is performed on the first processing data above to generate second processing data, and A lesion characterization device that generates an analysis reference image by performing decimation on the above-mentioned second processing data.
In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Receive an ultrasonic RF signal and perform beamforming to generate first processing data, and A second processing data is generated by performing IQ demodulation on the first processing data above, and A lesion characterization device that generates an analysis reference image by performing decimation on the above-mentioned second processing data.
In paragraph 4, The above processor is a lesion characterization device that generates an analysis reference image by performing Singular Vector Decomposition (SVD) on the above 3D ultrasound image.
A storage unit that stores at least one instruction; and It includes a processor that performs analysis by executing the above command, The above processor records an ultrasound image in the storage unit, and A probability density function for the physical quantities of each center position and its surrounding positions for the above ultrasound image is generated and recorded in the storage unit, and Based on the above probability density function, the Shannon entropy for each of the above center positions is calculated, and A reconstructed image is generated based on the above Shannon entropy, and A lesion characterization device that provides lesion characterization information based on the above-mentioned reconstructed image.
In paragraph 8, The processor sets a three-dimensional window defining the center position and surrounding information area and records it in the storage unit, and A lesion characterization device in which the above probability density function represents the probability distribution for a physical quantity corresponding to a position included in the above three-dimensional window.
In paragraph 8, The above processor is, A probability density function for each center position and its surrounding positions is generated using at least one of sound speed measurement, damping coefficient analysis, Nakagami analysis, entropy analysis, scatterer density analysis, and scatterer size analysis, and Based on the above probability density function, the Shannon entropy in the frequency domain is calculated, and A lesion characterization device that generates the reconstructed image by calculating a numerical value that quantitatively evaluates the similarity between a lesion region and a surrounding region by calculating Shannon entropy for each frequency band.
In a lesion characterization method performed by a lesion characterization device, Step of recording ultrasound images; A step of generating and recording a probability density function for physical quantities of each center position and surrounding positions for the above ultrasound image; A step of calculating Shannon entropy for each center position based on the probability density function above; A step of generating a reconstructed image based on the above Shannon entropy; and A method for characterizing a lesion comprising the step of providing lesion characterization information based on the above-mentioned reconstructed image.

Description

Lesion characterization device using 3D ultrasound image and lesion characterization method thereof The present invention relates to a lesion characterization device and a lesion characterization method using three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Existing 3D ultrasound imaging technology is primarily focused on providing structural images of lesions, which limits its ability to effectively characterize areas with physical characteristics different from the lesion or its surroundings. Consequently, it is difficult to precisely analyze physical characteristics to detect lesions early or accurately identify abnormal tissues. Furthermore, conventional ultrasound imaging technology can only analyze physical characteristics within an arbitrarily set region of interest, resulting in a lack of detailed analysis of the entire image. For example, ultrasound elastography requires a process of physically deforming tissue, necessitating additional equipment and procedures; consequently, there are limitations in that the analysis process is complex and time-consuming. Although there is a qUS method that performs analysis using only conventional b-mode ultrasound, this method has the disadvantage of lower resolution of the analysis results and the inability to view the characteristics of the entire tissue numerically, rather than observing the differences between the surrounding tissue and the lesion. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lesion characterization system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a lesion characterization device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a lesion characterization method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing detailed steps of some components of a lesion characterization method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing detailed steps of a part of a lesion characterization method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a three-dimensional ultrasound image according to a first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a three-dimensional ultrasound image according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an analysis method according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a reconstructed image according to the same. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an analysis method according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a reconstructed image according to the same. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description disclosed below, together with the accompanying drawings, is intended to describe exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiment in which the present invention can be practiced. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the description may be omitted, and the same reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components throughout the specification. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lesion characterization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A lesion characterization system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound device (10) and a lesion characterization device (100). The ultrasonic device (10) applies an RF signal to a target to be analyzed and receives a signal reflected by the target. Specifically, the ultrasonic device (10) may be a device that sends an ultrasonic signal to a target area through a transducer and then receives a reflected signal that returns. The ultrasonic device (10) can operate in multiple modes, for example, a basic mode such as a B mode (brightness mode) and a Doppler mode that utilizes the Doppler effect. At this time, the Doppler mode includes a color Doppler mode in which the direction of blood flow can be indicated by color and the speed of blood flow by brightness, and a power Doppler mode in which blood flow can be indicated more sensitively than in the color Doppler mode. As various known ultrasonic devices may be used as such ultrasonic devices, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The ultrasound device (10) transmits the received reflected signal (RF signal) to the lesion characterization device (100). The lesion characterization device (100) is a computing device for analyzing a reflection signal to derive lesion characteristics based on a three-dimensional ultrasound image, and can be implemented as a computer, server, smartphone, tablet PC, smart pad, laptop, etc. The lesion characterization device (100) can receive a reflected signal by being connected to the ultrasound device (10) via wired or