User interface for a three-dimensional colour ultrasound imaging system

Abstract

A three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system color user interface (104) generates a volumetrically-rendered ultrasound image (76). The ultrasound image (76) is manipulable using three-dimensional image compositing functions. The interface (104) presents to the user three-dimensional image controls for controlling the ultrasound image. The three-dimensional image controls (104) have an operational similarity to two-dimensional image controls for controlling a two-dimensional ultrasound image. The interface (104) further relates the three-dimensional ultrasound image controls to the plurality of three-dimensional image compositing functions for manipulating the ultrasound images. Additionally, the interface presents to the user a three-dimensional color image control for controllably manipulating the ultrasound image using three-dimensional image using compositing functions such as (1) a color flow mapping function (76, FIGURE 11), (2) a color flow overlay function for mapping fluid flow direction (76, FIGUREs 12 and 13), (3) a depth-based velocity visualization color mapping function (76, FIGURE 14A); and (4) an absolute velocity representation function for mapping absolute fluid flow velocity relating to said ultrasound object (76, FIGURE 15).