KR20150037497A - The method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional(3d) image of the object - Google Patents

Abstract

A method to generate a three dimensional image of an object by an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps of: acquiring ultrasound data of the object; and generating a three dimensional image of the object through the acquired ultrasound data. The three dimensional image generating step of an object is able to generate a three dimensional image of the object so that a part, in which property information of acquired ultrasound data is different, has the three dimensional image of the object expressed differently.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a three-

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image of a subject, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional medical image for a subject.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus transmits an ultrasound signal from a body surface of a target body toward a predetermined site in the body and obtains an image of a tomographic layer or blood flow of the soft tissue using information of the ultrasound signal reflected from the tissue in the body.

Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an advantage that information on a target object can be displayed in real time. In addition, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has advantages of high stability because it does not have exposure of X-ray and the like, and it can be used for other image diagnosis such as X-ray diagnostic apparatus, CT (computerized tomography) scanner, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) It is widely used with devices.

A method for generating a three-dimensional image of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining ultrasound data for the target object; And generating a three-dimensional image of the object through the obtained ultrasound data, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object comprises the steps of: Dimensional image of the object so that the 3D image is differently displayed.

For example, the characteristic information may include at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information, and surface information for the object.

For example, the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object may generate a three-dimensional image of the object through at least one of the specular reflection coefficient, the specular light index, and the hue of the object.

For example, the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object may include rendering a three-dimensional image of the object according to the characteristic information.

For example, the method may further include displaying the generated three-dimensional image of the object.

For example, the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object may include generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object.

For example, the image having the reflection effect may be generated by a plurality of light sources.

An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit for acquiring ultrasound data for the target object; And an image generator for generating a three-dimensional image of the object through the obtained ultrasound data, wherein the generating of the three-dimensional image of the object comprises the steps of: Dimensional image of the object so that the three-dimensional image is represented differently.

For example, the characteristic information may include at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information, and surface information for the object.

For example, the image generating unit may generate a three-dimensional image of the object through at least one of a specular reflection coefficient, a specular light index, and a hue of the object.

For example, the image generating unit may generate a three-dimensional image of the target object by rendering a three-dimensional image of the target object according to the characteristic information.

For example, the display unit may further include a display unit for displaying the generated three-dimensional image.

For example, the image generating unit may generate an image having a reflected light effect on the object.

For example, the image having the reflection effect may be generated by a plurality of light sources.

A method for generating a three-dimensional image of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes acquiring medical image data for the target object; And generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object based on the obtained medical image data.

For example, the method may further include displaying the image having the reflective effect.

For example, the step of generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object may include: calculating a representative voxel to be displayed on a screen among the voxels in the path of the sight line vector; Calculating a surface normal vector; Calculating a reflected light vector through the surface normal vector; Generating a color of the object, a reflection coefficient for the light source, and a specular light index; Calculating a color for one point included in the image through at least one of the reflected light vector, the hue of the object, the reflection coefficient for the light source, and the specular light index.

For example, the step of generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object may include extracting a depth map of the object and the screen; Calculating a surface normal vector for the depth map; Calculating a reflected light vector through the surface normal vector; Generating a color of the object, a reflection coefficient for the light source, and a specular light index; Calculating a color for one point included in the image through at least one of the reflected light vector, the hue of the object, the reflection coefficient for the light source, and the specular light index.

For example, the image having the reflection effect may be generated through a plurality of rendering operations including reflection light rendering.

For example, the image having the reflected light effect may be generated by a plurality of light sources.

For example, the medical image data may be image data of a target object obtained using an ultrasound diagnostic device, an X-ray diagnostic device, a CT (Computerized Tomography) scanner, or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) device.

An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional medical image of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit for acquiring medical image data for the target object; And an image generating unit for generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object based on the obtained medical image data.

For example, the display unit may further include a display unit for displaying an image having the reflection effect.

For example, the image generating unit receives the color of the object, the reflection coefficient for the light source, and the specular light index from outside of the apparatus or internally calculates the color, the reflection coefficient for the light source, And a color of one point included in the image is calculated through at least one of the specular light indexes.

For example, the image generating unit may include a step of extracting a depth map of the object and a screen, calculating a reflected light vector, and calculating a color of one point included in the image through the reflected light vector .

For example, the image having the reflected light effect may be generated by a plurality of light sources.

For example, the image having the reflection effect may be generated through a plurality of rendering operations including reflection light rendering.

For example, the medical image data may be image data of a target object obtained using an ultrasound diagnostic device, an X-ray diagnostic device, a CT (Computerized Tomography) scanner, or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) device.

1 shows an ultrasound image and a 3D rendering image for a target object.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a three-dimensional image in which characteristic information of a target object is reflected according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates that the image characteristic information is spatial frequency according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 illustrates that image characteristic information is image intensity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates that the image characteristic information is an image histogram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates that the image characteristic information is a co-occurrence matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates that the image characteristic information is a local binary pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates that image characteristic information is uniform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering and displaying a three-dimensional image in which characteristic information of a target object is reflected according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating an image in which characteristic information of a window region of a target object is reflected according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating an image for a window region based on characteristic information generated according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating an image for a window region based on characteristic information generated according to another embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image in which characteristics information of a target object is reflected according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating an image that reflects characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object is reflected according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 16 and 17 are views for explaining the effect of reflected light in characteristic information of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a view for explaining a method for obtaining the ultrasound images of FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is reflected differently according to a specular light index; FIG.
20 is a view showing an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention is reflected differently according to a specular light index.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a change in image according to a specular light index and a specular reflection coefficient.
22 is a view showing an ultrasound image showing a reflected light effect when two light sources according to an embodiment of the present invention are used.
23 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.
24 is a diagram for illustrating a method of calculating a reflected light vector through a normal vector.
25 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.
26 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.
27 to 29 are diagrams for explaining a method of calculating surface information of a target object.

The terms used in this specification will be briefly described and the present invention will be described in detail.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term selected arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, the term used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term, not on the name of a simple term, but on the entire contents of the present invention.

When an element is referred to as "including" an element throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the element may include other elements, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Also, the terms "part," " module, "and the like described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented in hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software .

The term "ultrasound image " in the entire specification refers to an image of a target object obtained by using ultrasound. An object can mean a part of the body. For example, a subject may include an organs such as liver, heart, uterus, brain, breast, abdomen, or fetus.

The term "medical image" as used throughout the specification refers to an image obtained by using an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) apparatus, It may mean an image of the object.

Throughout the specification, the term "user" may be, but is not limited to, a medical professional such as a doctor, nurse, clinician,

Throughout the specification, the term "voxel" may refer to a minimum unit of a three-dimensional image, but is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by like reference characters throughout the specification.

1 shows an ultrasound image and a 3D rendering image for a target object.

Ultrasonic 3D function has been used for fetal diagnosis until recently, but recently it has been developed as a technique for obtaining the same effect as the digestive tract imaging through the endoscope without actually using the endoscope.

For example, using the ultrasound 3D function, the internal structure of the digestive organs can be easily grasped by using the ultrasound data of the digestive organs including the stomach, and the 3D volume rendering technique.

However, since the ultrasound 3D function performs the 3D volume rendering using only the structure information shown in the ultrasound image of the target object, there is a problem that the characteristics (e.g., texture) of the target object can not be accurately expressed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when there is a sediment 20 (e.g., a bundle of noodles stuck to the stomach) in a subject (e.g., the stomach of a patient), the sediment 20 is removed from the ultrasound image 10 It may appear darker or lighter than surrounding tissues. If the predetermined region 11 is selected from the ultrasound image 10 and the rendering is performed on the selected region for precise observation of the precipitate 20, It may appear as a polyp 31.

According to this method, rendering is performed using only the structure information of the target object while overlooking the attributes of the target tissue and the precipitate 20, so that an error of rendering the sediment 20 as if it is a polyp may occur, May lead to erroneous clinical judgment.

In the two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image of the object, the precipitate 20 and the like may have different brightness and texture as compared with the surrounding tissue. Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, based on the characteristics of the object including the precipitate 20 Dimensional volume rendering is performed to provide the user with a three-dimensional image reflecting characteristics of the object.

In an apparatus or method for generating a three-dimensional image according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a three-dimensional image of a target object is generated through the obtained ultrasound data, a portion of the acquired characteristic information of the ultrasound data is different, Dimensional image of the object to be displayed. For example, if the precipitate 20 in FIG. 1 has characteristic information different from the surrounding tissue, the precipitate 20 may be expressed differently from the surrounding tissue even in a three-dimensional image.

In an apparatus or method for generating a three-dimensional image according to an embodiment of the present invention, if the characteristic information of ultrasonic data is different, a three-dimensional image of the object may be different. Here, the characteristic information may include at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information, and surface information. The characteristic information will be described in detail below.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a three-dimensional image in which characteristic information of a target object is reflected according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A method for generating a three-dimensional image reflecting characteristic information of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes acquiring ultrasound data for a target object (S10), generating characteristic information of the target object from the acquired ultrasound data (S20) and generating a three-dimensional image of the target object based on the generated characteristic information (S30).

The ultrasound data according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an ultrasound response signal received from an object to which the ultrasound is irradiated. The ultrasound response signal may include at least one of an analog signal and a digital signal.

For example, the ultrasound data may include an ultrasound response signal obtained from an object that can be expressed in units of voxels. In other words, the ultrasound data may include an amplitude and a phase value of a response ultrasonic wave that is transmitted back to the probe via the object, and the ultrasonic wave transmitted toward the object through the probe.

The attribute information of the object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include image characteristic information of the object, physical property information of the object, surface information of the object, and the like.

The image characteristic information includes ultrasound images such as a spatial frequency, an image intensity, an image histogram, a co-occurrence matrix, a local binary pattern, and a homogeneity of an ultrasound image with respect to a target object And characteristic information of the image.

The uniformity of the object means the degree of change in the size and shape of at least one particle contained in the object. For example, if the size or shape of at least one particle (or tissue) contained in a subject varies, the uniformity of the subject is absent or very low. Also, if the size or shape of at least one particle (or tissue) contained in the object is the same, it means that the object has a very high uniformity.

The physical property information of the object includes strength, hardness, elasticity, plasticity, viscosity, density, ductile, brittleness, malleablity, And may include information indicating the physical properties of the object, such as rigidity and toughness.

The surface information of the object may include information for indicating the surface characteristics of the object, such as 'smooth', 'bumpy', 'rough', 'smooth'

Also, the surface information of the object includes information for indicating the visual or stereoscopic property of the object, which can be felt through the visual organs of the person, such as 'contrast between light and dark', 'separation or division between a whole background and a predetermined object' can do.

The attribute information of the object may be information on each pixel constituting the image and information on each of the one or more areas constituting the image. In addition, the attribute information of the object may be information on a frame of the image.

The ultrasound image for the object may be at least one of a brightness mode image, a color mode image, and a D mode image. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasound image may be a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image of a target object.

The step S20 of extracting the characteristic information from the ultrasound data obtained according to the embodiment of the present invention may include extracting characteristic information from the acquired ultrasound data based on the ultrasound image generated in accordance with the ultrasound response signal, such as spatial frequency, image intensity, image histogram, Obtaining one of a binary pattern and a uniformity.

The step S20 of extracting the characteristic information from the ultrasound data acquired according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step of analyzing the image characteristic information and a step of determining the characteristic information of the target object based on the analysis result .

The analysis and determination of the image characteristic information will be described later with reference to Figs. 3 to 8 below.

FIG. 3 illustrates that the image characteristic information is spatial frequency according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The spatial frequency is a concept for indicating the rate of change of the pixel value in the horizontal or vertical direction on the screen displaying the image. For example, the spatial frequency is low when the pixel value slowly changes (or the pixel value changes little) or when the correlation of the objects included in the image is high. On the other hand, the spatial frequency is high when the change in the pixel value is extreme (or the change in the pixel value such as edge is discontinuous) or when the correlation of the objects included in the image is low.

The ultrasound image 40 or 50 of the object can be obtained as shown in FIG. In addition, the ultrasound image 40 or 50 of the target object may be an ultrasound image of a part of the ultrasound image 10 of the target object (for example, a portion corresponding to the predetermined selected region 11) as shown in FIG.

For example, the sizes of the tissues 41, 42, and 43 of the subject may be different from each other. Here, the tissue may refer to a particle of a living organism or a particle of a precipitate constituting the object. The object may include the largest tissue 42, medium sized tissue 43 and the smallest tissue 41. Further, the shapes of the tissues 41, 42, and 43 of the subject may also be different from each other.

Also, the brightness values of the tissues 41, 42, and 43 of the target body may be different from each other. For example, the object may include a tissue 43 that appears brightest on the ultrasound image 40 or 50, a tissue 42 that exhibits medium brightness, and a tissue 41 that appears darkest. Since different ultrasonic response signals may be generated depending on the depth, density, elasticity, etc. of tissue, different tissues may exhibit different brightness values. For example, the deepest tissue 41 may appear darkest. In other words, as the depth of the tissue deepens, the brightness value may become smaller and smaller.

The brightness value of the plurality of pixels included in the line located at the k-th position from the top of the first ultrasound image 40 may be expressed as the amplitude value of the pixel as shown in FIG. For example, tissue 42 representing medium brightness may be represented as a pixel amplitude value of 0.5. Also, the darkest appearing tissue 41 may be represented as a pixel amplitude value of -1.

Also, the brightness value of a plurality of pixels included in a line located at a k-th position from the top of the second ultrasound image 50 in correspondence with the first ultrasound image 40 may be expressed as an amplitude value of the pixel. The second ultrasound image 50 includes a tissue 51 having the same size and the same brightness value. Therefore, if the brightness value is represented along the kth line, it can be expressed to have a pixel amplitude value of 1 as shown in FIG.

The brightness values of the pixels along the same kth line represent different aspects in the first ultrasound image 40 and the second ultrasound image 50. [ In other words, in the first ultrasound image 40, the pixel amplitude value (or the brightness value of the pixel) varies from -1 to 0.5, whereas in the second ultrasound image 50, the pixel amplitude value changes from 0 to 1 Only.

In the above example, since the first ultrasonic image 40 has a large change in the pixel amplitude value, it can be determined that the spatial frequency is high. In other words, the correlation of the tissues 41, 42, and 43 included in the first ultrasound image 40 is low, and therefore, the object of the first ultrasound image 40 has 'uneven' or 'rough' Can be determined.

In addition, since the second ultrasonic image 50 has substantially no change in the pixel amplitude value as compared with the first ultrasonic image 40, it can be determined that the spatial frequency is low. In other words, the correlation of the objects (e.g., the tissues 51) included in the second ultrasound image is very high, and therefore the object of the second ultrasound image 50 can be determined to have 'smooth' or 'smooth' have.

As described above, the spatial frequency of the ultrasound image can be extracted as the characteristic information, and the characteristic information of the object can be determined (or obtained) based on the spatial frequency.

4 illustrates that image characteristic information is image intensity according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image intensity according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be expressed as a brightness value of a plurality of pixels of an ultrasound image with respect to a target object.

A plurality of tissues 41 to 43 having brightness values included in different ranges (for example, the first section 401 to the third section 403) as shown in FIG. 4 appear in the first ultrasound image 40 . In addition, a tissue 51 having the same range of brightness values (e.g., the third section 403) may appear in the second ultrasound image 50.

In other words, in the first ultrasound image 40, a tissue 41 having a brightness value included in a first section (for example, a dark section) 401 and a tissue 41 having a brightness value included in a second section (for example, The first ultrasound image 40 includes the tissue 42 having the brightness value and the tissue 43 having the brightness value included in the third section (e.g., the bright section) 403, 41 to 43 may be determined to be heterogeneous tissues. Also, even if the tissues 41 to 43 are of the same kind of tissue, the brightness value interval of the tissues 41 to 43 is different, so that it can be determined that the depths of the tissues 41 to 43 are different from each other.

Therefore, it can be determined that the object of the first ultrasound image 40 has 'uneven' or 'rough' characteristics.

On the other hand, in the second ultrasound image 50, the second ultrasound image 50 includes a tissue 51 having a brightness value included in a third section (e.g., a bright section) 403, 51).

Therefore, it can be determined that the object of the second ultrasound image 50 has 'smooth' or 'smooth' characteristics.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the image characteristic information is an image histogram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An image histogram of the ultrasound image 40 or 50 for the object may be obtained as image characteristic information as shown in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image histogram of the ultrasound image 40 or 50 represents the number of pixels for a pixel value (e.g., brightness value, etc.) of the ultrasound image.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of tissues 41 to 43 having different brightness values may appear in the first ultrasound image 40. The number of pixels according to the pixel values of the first ultrasound image 40 may be evenly distributed in pixel values 0 to 192. [

4 and 5, the number of pixels having a brightness value included in the first section 401 is a first graph 501, and the number of pixels having a brightness value included in the second section 402 is a 2 graph 503 and the number of pixels having brightness values included in the third section 403 may appear on the image histogram as a third graph 505. [

Accordingly, the tissues 41 to 43 included in the first ultrasound image 40 may be determined to be heterogeneous tissues having various brightness values. In addition, even if the tissues 41 to 43 are of the same kind, the histogram distribution of the tissues 41 to 43 is comparatively wide, so that the depths of the tissues 41 to 43 can be determined to be different from each other.

Therefore, it can be determined that the object of the first ultrasound image 40 has 'uneven' or 'rough' characteristics.

In addition, a tissue 51 having the same or similar brightness value may appear in the second ultrasound image 50. 4 and 5, only the number of pixels having a brightness value included in the third section 403 may appear as the fourth graph 502 on the image histogram of the second ultrasound image 50, The ultrasound image 50 may be determined to include a single tissue 51.

Therefore, it can be determined that the object of the second ultrasound image 50 has 'smooth' or 'smooth' characteristics.

FIG. 6 illustrates that the image characteristic information is a co-occurrence matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The co-occurrence matrix may be used to determine the repeatability of the pixel values. For example, when a value corresponding to a predetermined pattern is large, it can be judged that the repeatability of such a pattern is high.

6, the brightest tissue 43 is represented by a brightness value of 3, the middle brightness tissue 42 is represented by a brightness value of 2, and the darkest tissue 41 is represented by a brightness value of 0 The first ultrasound image 40 may be simply represented by a 4x4 matrix 610. [

The co-occurrence matrix 630 can be obtained using a pattern that is interpreted as a unit of inter-pixel horizontal distance 1 with respect to a matrix 610 representing pixel values of the first ultrasound image 40. [ However, the interpretation of the pattern between the pixels is not necessarily limited to the horizontal direction, but may be performed in the vertical direction, the diagonal direction, and the like.

For example, if a pixel value exists 611 side by side in a horizontal pattern of (1, 0), the element 631 of the matrix corresponding to the pattern of (1, 0) The number of patterns, 3, is displayed. The co-occurrence matrix 630 can be obtained by displaying the number of patterns corresponding to each element of the matrix.

In addition, by expressing the brightness value of the tissue 51 included in the second ultrasound image 50 as 3, the second ultrasound image 50 can also be simply represented as a 4x4 matrix 620. [ The coincidence matrix 640 for the second ultrasound image 50 may also be obtained in the same manner as the acquisition of the coincidence matrix 630 for the first ultrasound image 40. [

In the simultaneous occurrence matrix 640 for the second ultrasound image 50, values may be intensively displayed in a specific element 641 of the matrix 640. In other words, since the pattern of (1,1) is repeated six times in the second ultrasound image 50, the element 641 of the matrix corresponding to the pattern of (1, 1) can be expressed as a value of 6 have.

The coincidence matrix 630 for the first ultrasound image 40 and the coincidence matrix 640 for the second ultrasound image 50 are compared with each other in the coincidence matrix 640, Because the repeatability of a predetermined pattern (for example, (1,1) or (3,3)) is high in the second ultrasound image 50. FIG.

It is determined that the object of the second ultrasound image 50 has relatively 'smooth' or 'smooth' characteristics as compared with the object of the first ultrasound image 40 because the repeatability of the pattern of the second ultrasound image 50 is high .

FIG. 7 illustrates that the extracted image characteristic information is a local binary pattern (LBP) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The Local Binary Pattern is a technique for determining the similarity between pixels by representing the difference between the pixel value of the current position and the neighboring pixel value in binary form of 0, 1. In other words, an LBP histogram representing the difference between neighboring pixels included in a predetermined radius for each pixel of an image as a binary value is obtained, and a plurality of binary expression values obtained based on each pixel are compared with each other The degree of similarity between the pixels can be determined.

A large similarity between pixels indicates that the pixels have the same property. For example, pixels with a high degree of similarity may have the same or similar brightness values. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the image pattern relatively accurately using the local binary pattern technique.

7, a 3x3 matrix 710 centering on a predetermined element 711 is selected in a matrix 610 representing the pixel values of the first ultrasound image 40, The binary representation matrix 730 can be obtained by expressing 1 if the neighboring pixels have a value equal to or higher than 1 and a pixel value smaller than 1, By reading the values of each element clockwise from the element 711 in the binary representation matrix 730, a binary value 750 '11101001' based on the pixel corresponding to the element 711 can be obtained. In this manner, the binary value '11111111' can be obtained based on the element 712.

In addition, the binary value 760 '00111110' may be obtained based on the matrix 720 centered on the predetermined element 721 in the matrix 620 indicating the pixel values of the second ultrasound image 50. In addition, the binary value '00111110' can be obtained based on the element 722.

The binary values '00111110' and '00111110' obtained in the second ultrasound image 50 are changed in the change of the binary values '11101001' and '11111111' obtained in the first ultrasound image 40, There is no. That is, the second ultrasound image 50 has a smaller change in the pixel value between the adjacent pixels than the first ultrasound image 40.

The object of the second ultrasound image 50 may be relatively 'smooth' or 'soft' as compared with the object of the first ultrasound image 40 because the second ultrasound image 50 has a small change of pixel values between adjacent pixels. It can be determined that it has the characteristic.

FIG. 8 illustrates that image characteristic information is uniform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The uniformity of the ultrasound image according to an embodiment of the present invention means the uniformity of the size or shape of the tissue 41, 42, 43 or 51 included in the ultrasound image 40 or 50. For the sake of explanation, it is assumed that the uniformity is expressed by the value '10' when the uniformity is completely uniform, and the uniformity is represented by the value '1' when the uniformity is not uniform.

The first ultrasound image 40 includes a plurality of tissues 41 to 43 of different sizes. Therefore, it can be determined that the uniformity of the first ultrasound image 40 is low. For example, the uniformity of the first ultrasound image 40 may be expressed as a value of '1', and the particle (or tissue) may be determined to be uneven. In other words, it can be determined that the object of the first ultrasound image 40 has 'uneven' or 'rough' characteristics.

On the other hand, the second ultrasound image 50 includes a plurality of tissues 51 having the same size. Therefore, it can be determined that the uniformity of the second ultrasound image 50 is relatively higher than that of the first ultrasound. For example, the uniformity of the second ultrasound image 50 may be expressed as a value ' 10 ', and it may be determined that the particle (or tissue) is even. In other words, it can be determined that the object of the second ultrasound image 50 has relatively 'smooth' or 'soft' characteristics as compared with the object of the first ultrasound image 40.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering and displaying a three-dimensional image in which characteristic information of a target object is reflected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The step of generating a three-dimensional image (S30) on the object based on the characteristic information generated according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step (S31) of rendering a three-dimensional image of the object in accordance with the characteristic information .

For example, a three-dimensional image can be rendered using the characteristic information generated according to the above-described method for the object. In other words, when three-dimensional volume rendering of a target object is performed, information of characteristics (e.g., texture, etc.) corresponding to each pixel acquired (or determined) through analysis of the above- In addition, the 3D volume image reflecting the characteristics of the object can be acquired.

In addition, the method according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a step (S40) of displaying a generated three-dimensional image reflecting characteristic information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating an image in which characteristic information of a window region of a target object is reflected according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

A method for generating an image reflecting feature information of a window region of an object according to an embodiment of the present invention includes acquiring an ultrasound image of a target object based on ultrasound data of the target object (S100) (S300) of generating characteristic information for the window region from the ultrasound data, and generating an image for the window region based on the generated characteristic information (S400) can do.

The step S200 of setting the window region in the ultrasound image obtained according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step S210 of selecting a predetermined region in the ultrasound image based on the external input.

In addition, the window area according to an embodiment of the present invention can be automatically set to a predetermined area of a predetermined size including a predetermined part (or a part) of the object even if no external input is applied. For example, a predetermined window area may be automatically set to a predetermined size so as to include the upper or lower curved surface of the patient's stomach.

The image characteristic information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include at least one of a spatial frequency, an image intensity, an image histogram, a co-occurrence matrix, a localized binary pattern, and a uniformity of an ultrasound image with respect to a target object, And may include the texture of the object.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating an image for a window region based on characteristic information generated according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The step S400 of generating an image for the window area based on the characteristic information generated according to the embodiment of the present invention may include rendering the 3D image of the window area according to the generated characteristic information S410 .

As described above, when three-dimensional volume rendering of a target object is performed, characteristic information corresponding to each pixel acquired (or determined) through analysis of characteristic information is used, thereby not only the structure of the target object but also the texture of the target object It is possible to acquire a three-dimensional volume image reflecting characteristics.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of generating an image for a window region based on characteristic information generated according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The step S400 of generating an image for a window area based on the generated characteristic information according to an embodiment of the present invention includes rendering (S420) a 3D image of the window area to be acquired (S420) And adding the generated characteristic information to the image (S440).

3D images can be acquired by performing 3D volume rendering on the window region and then adding characteristic information to the rendered 3D image to obtain a 3D image reflecting the characteristic information.

In other words, a first image is generated by performing three-dimensional volume rendering on the window region, a second image is generated based on the characteristic information generated by extracting and analyzing from the ultrasonic data corresponding to the window region, (For example, a first image) rendered by superimposing the second image on the three-dimensional image. Further, by adding the filtered characteristic information through a predetermined image processing filter or the like to the rendered three-dimensional image, a three-dimensional image reflecting the characteristic information can be obtained.

13 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image in which characteristics information of a target object is reflected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An apparatus 1300 for generating a three-dimensional image reflecting feature information of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit 1310 for acquiring ultrasound data for a target object, A characteristic information generating unit 1350 for generating characteristic information, and an image generating unit 1370 for generating a three-dimensional image of the target based on the generated characteristic information.

In addition, the apparatus 1300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a display unit 1390 for displaying the generated three-dimensional image.

The characteristic information according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one image characteristic information of a spatial frequency, an image intensity, an image histogram, a co-occurrence matrix, a localized binary pattern, and a uniformity of an ultrasound image with respect to the target object .

The characteristic information according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information of a target object, and presentation information.

The image generator 1370 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may render a three-dimensional image of a target object according to the characteristic information generated by the characteristic information generator 1350.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating an image that reflects characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

An apparatus 1300 for generating an image reflecting feature information of a window region of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit 1310 for acquiring ultrasound data for a target object, A window region setting unit 1360 for setting a window region in the acquired ultrasound image, a property information generating unit 1360 for generating property information on the window region from the ultrasound data, A generating unit 1350, and an image generating unit 1370 for generating an image for a window region based on the generated characteristic information.

The window area setting unit 1360 according to an embodiment of the present invention can automatically set the window area by a predetermined area of a predetermined size including a predetermined part (or area) of the object. The predetermined area may be stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown). For example, a predetermined window area may be automatically set to a predetermined size so as to include the upper or lower curved surface of the patient's stomach.

The apparatus 1300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an external input receiving unit 1340.

The window region setting unit 1360 can select a predetermined region from the ultrasound image acquired through the ultrasound image acquisition unit 1320 based on the external input received through the external input receiving unit 1340. [

The image characteristic information according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one of a spatial frequency, an image intensity, an image histogram, a coincidence matrix, a localized binary pattern, and a uniformity of an ultrasound image with respect to a target object, Texture, and uniformity of the object.

The image generating unit 1370 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image rendering unit 1371 for rendering a three-dimensional image of the window region according to the characteristic information generated through the characteristic information generation unit 1350 .

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for generating an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object is reflected according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The image generation unit 1370 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image rendering unit 1371 that renders a three-dimensional image of a window region to be acquired, and a characteristic information generation unit 1350 to the rendered three- And a characteristic information adding unit 1372 that adds the generated characteristic information.

In addition, the image generating unit 1370 according to an embodiment of the present invention may generate the characteristic information image in which the characteristic information is expressed based on the characteristic information generated by the characteristic information generating unit 1350.

In other words, a three-dimensional image is obtained by performing a three-dimensional volume rendering on the window region, and then the characteristic information is added to the rendered three-dimensional image, thereby obtaining a three-dimensional image reflecting the characteristic information.

The characteristic information addition unit 1372 adds the characteristic image information to the first image generated by the image rendering unit 1371 and the second image generated through the image generation unit 1370 (For example, the first image). The characteristic information addition unit 1372 may include a predetermined image processing filter or the like. In other words, the feature information is filtered through a predetermined image processing filter or the like, and added to the rendered three-dimensional image, whereby a three-dimensional image in which the characteristic information is reflected can be obtained.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views for explaining the effect of reflected light in characteristic information of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, an image shown in FIG. 16 (c) can be generated by combining the image of FIG. 16 (a) and the image of FIG. 16 (b). The reflection light effect as shown in FIG. 16 (b) may be varied depending on the material characteristics of the object.

For example, the apparatus 1300 in Fig. 13 can acquire a three-dimensional image as shown in Fig. 16 (a), and can acquire characteristic information corresponding to the image in Fig. 16 (b). For example, the apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13 can generate an image as shown in FIG. 16 (c) by adding an image as shown in FIG. 16 (b) to a three-dimensional image as shown in FIG. 16 (a). Accordingly, the apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13 can additionally render a reflection light effect, which is characteristic information corresponding to the image of FIG. 16 (b), on the three-dimensional image as shown in FIG. 16 (a).

The image shown in Fig. 17 (a) can be combined with the image shown in Fig. 17 (b) to generate an image shown in Fig. 17 (c). The reflection light effect as shown in FIG. 17 (b) may be changed depending on the material characteristics of the object.

For example, the apparatus 1300 in Fig. 13 can acquire a three-dimensional image as shown in Fig. 17 (a), and can acquire characteristic information corresponding to the image in Fig. 17 (b). For example, the apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13 can generate an image as shown in FIG. 17 (c) by adding an image shown in FIG. 17 (b) to a three-dimensional image as shown in FIG. 17 (a). Therefore, the apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13 can additionally render the reflection light effect, which is characteristic information corresponding to the image of FIG. 17 (b), in the three-dimensional image as shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining a method for obtaining the ultrasound images of FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 18, the reflection light effect can be generated through a three-dimensional rendering process. Specular Rendering which generates a reflection light effect can be implemented by Ray Tracing Rendering. Ray Tracing Rendering is a rendering method using a global illumination model. In other words, Ray Tracing Rendering traces the path of light in every pixel on the screen, assuming that the ray is emitted from the camera, and calculates the lighting effect by reflection, refraction, Method. In the Ray Tracing Rendering, local illumination models are used to calculate the illumination effects by reflection between the light source and the object. The local illumination models are Ambient, Diffusive Reflection, Calculates the lighting effect by Specular Reflection. Among them, the reflected light effect expresses the lighting effect highlighted by the light specularly reflected from the surface. These highlights vary in intensity depending on the location of the camera.

The reflection light effect can be calculated through the following equation (1).

[Equation 1]

Co: Color of pixel

Cp: Specular light color

Ks: specular reflection coefficient

Os: Object Color

R: Reflection light vector

S: View vector

n: Specular Reflection Exponent

The mirror surface color (Cp) may mean the color of the light for giving a reflection light effect. The specular reflection coefficient (Ks) may mean the degree of reflection of the reflected light. The reflected light vector R can simultaneously indicate the direction and intensity of the reflected light. The sight line vector S may mean a unit vector with respect to the direction of the line of sight.

If the direction of the reflected light vector R is matched with the direction of the sight line S in Equation (1), it can be expressed as Equation (2).

That is, the reflection light effect can also be calculated through the following equation (2). Assuming that the position and direction of the light source are not changed, the position and direction of the light source can be regarded as the same as the camera position and direction.

&Quot; (2) "

Co: Color of pixel

Cp: Specular light color

Ks: specular reflection coefficient

Os: Object Color

Rz: Z-axis (View Plane origin) value of the reflection vector where light is reflected from the surface of the object

N: Mirror surface light index

The Specular light color, Specular reflection coefficient, and Os (Object Color) in [Equation 1] and [Equation 2] are the spatial frequency and the image intensity of the ultrasound data described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. , An image histogram, a co-occurrence matrix, a local binary pattern, and uniformity.

The Cp (specular light color), Ks (specular reflection coefficient), and Os (object color) of the equations 1 and 2 are the average, variance, and variance of the ultrasonic data B, C, D, Standard distribution, skewness, kurtosis, and so on.

In addition, Cp (Specular light color), Ks (specular reflection coefficient), and Os (Object Color) in [Equation 1] and [Equation 2] may be statistical values for the distance between voxels of the object.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is reflected differently according to a specular light index; FIG.

19 (a) is an ultrasound image of a target object when the specular light index is 10 in Equation (2), and FIG. 19 (b) The ultrasound image of the target object is obtained. The ultrasound image of FIG. 19 (a) is compared with the ultrasound image of FIG. 19 (b), and since the specular light index is small, the highlight portion is widely distributed in the ultrasound image.

20 is a view showing an image in which characteristic information about a window region of a target object according to an embodiment of the present invention is reflected differently according to a specular light index.

20 (a) is an ultrasound image of the object when the specular reflection coefficient is 0.19 in Equation (2), and FIG. 20 (b) is an ultrasound image of the object when the specular reflection coefficient is 0.5 The ultrasound image of the target object is obtained. Since the ultrasound image of FIG. 20 (a) is smaller in mirror reflection coefficient than the ultrasound image of FIG. 20 (b), the highlight portion of the ultrasound image is relatively weak.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a change in image according to a specular light index and a specular reflection coefficient.

Referring to FIG. 21, it can be seen that as the specular reflection coefficient increases, the magnitude of the reflected light increases, and as the specular light index increases, the magnitude of the reflected portion narrows.

22 is a view showing an ultrasound image showing a reflected light effect when two light sources according to an embodiment of the present invention are used.

Referring to FIG. 22, FIG. 22 (a) is an ultrasound image in which only one white light source is assumed. FIG. 22 (b) is an ultrasound image when a white light source and a red light source are assumed together. The ultrasonic image of FIG. 22 (b) can be confirmed to have a red highlight as compared with the ultrasonic image of FIG. 22 (a).

In the case where there are two light sources, the color of the pixel can be calculated as shown in Equation (3).

&Quot; (3) "

Generally, since the hue of the object is the same, it can be calculated as shown in Equation (4).

&Quot; (4) "

Co: Color of pixel

Cp1 to Cpj: Mirror surface color of each light source

Ks1 to Ksj: mirror reflection coefficient for each light source

Os1 ~ Osj: Color of Object (Object Color)

Rz1 to Rzj: the z-axis value of the reflection vector where light is reflected from the surface of the object for each light source

n1 to nj: Mirror surface light index for each light source

Equation (3) can be applied according to various embodiments. For example, in Equation (3), if the hue of the object and the reflection coefficient for the light source are the same, Ks1 to Ksj may have the same value.

23 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image generating unit 1370 of FIG. 13 can generate an image by the method of FIG. Referring to FIG. 23, the image generating unit 1370 can obtain a representative voxel V to be displayed on the screen among the voxels in the path of the sight line vector projected from a point P of the screen (S2100). The image generating unit 1370 can calculate the surface normal vector for the voxel V and calculate the reflected light vector through the normal vector (S2200).

The image generating unit 1370 receives the user's input from the user or the inside of the apparatus (S2300). The mirror color Cp, the mirror reflection coefficient Ks, and the color Os of the object are input. For example, the image generating unit 1370 may generate the mirror image color (s) according to the characteristic information such as the spatial frequency, the image intensity, the image histogram, the coincidence matrix, the localized binary pattern and the uniformity of the ultrasound data described with reference to Figs. Cp), the specular reflection coefficient (Ks), and the hue (Os) of the object.

The image generating unit 1370 generates an image by using the mirror surface color Cp, the specular reflection coefficient Ks, the color Os of the object, and the reflected light vector, (Co) can be calculated.

The image rendering unit 1371 of FIG. 14 and the image rendering unit 1371 of FIG. 15 can generate an image by the method of FIG.

24 is a diagram for illustrating a method of calculating a reflected light vector through a normal vector.

Referring to FIG. 24, the image generating unit 1370 can calculate the reflected light vector V _reflect by Equation (5).

&Quot; (5) "

The image generating unit 1370 may calculate the reflected light vector V _reflect through the normal vector V _normal and the light source vector V _light through Equation (5).

25 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image generating unit 1370 of FIG. 13 can generate an image by the method of FIG. Referring to FIG. 25, the image generating unit 1370 extracts depth maps of a target object and a screen (S3100). The image generating unit 1370 can calculate the surface normal vector and the reflection vector for the depth map (S3200). The image generating unit 1370 can receive the external input of the mirror surface color Cp, the specular reflection coefficient Ks, and the color Os of the object or can calculate the color internally internally (S3300). The image generating unit 1370 generates an image by using the mirror surface color Cp, the specular reflection coefficient Ks, the color Os of the object, and the reflected light vector, using Equation (2) (Co) can be calculated.

26 is a flowchart illustrating a method of rendering a three-dimensional reflection light effect according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image generating unit 1370 of FIG. 13 can generate an image by the method of FIG. Referring to FIG. 26, the image generating unit 1370 extracts depth maps of the object and the screen (S4100). The image generating unit 1370 may calculate the surface normal vector and the reflection vector for the depth map (S4200). The image generating unit 1370 can receive the external input or calculate internally the mirror surface color Cp, the specular reflection coefficient Ks, and the color Os of the object S4300. The image generating unit 1370 generates a point on the screen through Equation 3 or Equation 4 using the mirror surface color Cp, the mirror reflection coefficient Ks, the color Os of the object, (Co) of the pixel in the pixel P can be calculated.

Meanwhile, the reflection light effect rendering method according to FIGS. 24 to 26 may be a part of step S500 of FIG. The reflection light effect rendering method according to FIGS. 24 to 26 may be implemented by the image generation unit 1370 of FIG. 13, the image rendering unit 1371 of FIG. 14, and the image rendering unit 1371 of FIG.

In addition, the reflected light rendering method according to FIGS. 24 to 26 may be implemented with Gray Scale Rendering and Diffused Light Rendering. In addition, the reflected light rendering method according to FIGS. 24 to 26 may be implemented independently of Gray Scale Rendering and Diffused Light Rendering, and each of the rendered images may be combined to implement a completed image.

27 to 29 are diagrams for explaining a method of calculating surface information of a target object.

Referring to FIG. 27, if a surface of a target object is represented by a geometric model, it can be represented by various methods such as A to H wave lines. Each wave line of A to H has a reference line. The reference line is a reference line of a wave expressed by a wave line. The reference line can be calculated by smoothing and line fitting using a wave line.

 The higher the frequency of crossing the wave line and the reference line, the rougher the surface. The lower the frequency of crossing the wave line and the reference line, the smoother the surface. Therefore, the wave line near the wave line A in the wave lines A to H can express the smooth surface of the object, and the wave line near the wave line H can represent the rough surface of the object.

Referring to FIG. 28, surface information of a target object can be calculated from a two-dimensional image (or a cross-section of three-dimensional ultrasound volume data) through the concept of the wave line and the reference line in FIG. On the other hand, in calculating the surface information of the object in the two-dimensional image, the wave line and the reference line in FIG. 27 are not used, and various types of wave lines and reference lines can be used. For example, as shown in Fig. 28, the baseline may have curvature.

Referring to FIG. 29, a wave surface and a reference plane may be defined by extending the wave line and the reference line in FIG. 27 to a three-dimensional ultrasonic volume. When the two-dimensional image of FIG. 28 is extended in three dimensions, the three-dimensional image of FIG. 29 can be obtained. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of calculating surface information of a target object can calculate a wave surface and a reference surface of a three-dimensional image through a wave line and a reference line of the two-dimensional image.

In connection with the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, contents related to the above-described method can be applied. Therefore, the description of the same contents as those of the above-described method with respect to the apparatus is omitted.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in a general-purpose digital computer that can be embodied as a program that can be executed in a computer, and that operates the program using a computer-readable recording medium.

The computer readable recording medium may be a magnetic storage medium (e.g., a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, etc.), an optical reading medium (e.g., a CD ROM, a DVD or the like), and a carrier wave Transmission).

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present invention.

Claims (28)

A method for generating a three-dimensional image of a subject,
Obtaining ultrasound data for the object; And
And generating a three-dimensional image of the object through the obtained ultrasound data,
Wherein the generating of the three-dimensional image of the object generates a three-dimensional image of the object so that the three-dimensional image of the object is represented differently in the portion where the characteristic information of the obtained ultrasonic data is different. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information, and surface information for the object. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the target object comprises generating a three-dimensional image of the target object through at least one of a specular reflection coefficient, a specular light index, and a hue of the target object. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object comprises rendering a three-dimensional image of the object according to the characteristic information. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a three-dimensional image of the generated object. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a three-dimensional image of the object comprises generating an image having a reflection effect on the object. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated by a plurality of light sources. An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image of a target object,
An ultrasound data acquisition unit for acquiring ultrasound data for the object; And
And an image generating unit for generating a three-dimensional image of the object through the obtained ultrasound data,
Wherein the generating of the three-dimensional image of the object generates the three-dimensional image of the object so that the three-dimensional image of the object is represented differently in the portion where the acquired characteristic information of the ultrasound data is different. Device. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of image characteristic information, physical property information, and surface information for the object. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image generating unit generates a three-dimensional image of the object through at least one of a specular reflection coefficient, a specular light index, and a hue of the object. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image generator generates a three-dimensional image of the object by rendering a three-dimensional image of the object according to the characteristic information. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a display unit for displaying the generated three-dimensional image. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image generating unit generates an image having a reflected light effect on the object. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated by a plurality of light sources. A method for generating a three-dimensional image of a subject,
Obtaining medical image data for the object; And
And generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object based on the obtained medical image data. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an image having the reflected light effect. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object comprises:
Calculating a representative voxel to be displayed on a screen among the voxels in the path of the sight line vector;
Calculating a surface normal vector;
Calculating a reflected light vector through the surface normal vector;
Generating a color of the object, a reflection coefficient for the light source, and a specular light index;
Calculating a color for one point included in the image through at least one of the reflected light vector, the hue of the object, the reflection coefficient for the light source, and the specular light index. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object comprises:
Extracting a depth map for a target object and a screen;
Calculating a surface normal vector for the depth map;
Calculating a reflected light vector through the surface normal vector;
Generating a color of the object, a reflection coefficient for the light source, and a specular light index;
Calculating a color for one point included in the image through at least one of the reflected light vector, the hue of the object, the reflection coefficient for the light source, and the specular light index. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated through a plurality of renderings including reflected light rendering. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated by a plurality of light sources. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the medical image data is image data of a target object obtained using an ultrasound diagnostic device, an X-ray diagnostic device, a CT (Computerized Tomography) scanner or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional medical image of a subject,
An ultrasound data acquisition unit for acquiring medical image data of the target object; And
And an image generating unit for generating an image having a reflected light effect on the object based on the obtained medical image data. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a display unit for displaying an image having the reflected light effect. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the image generator comprises:
Wherein the color of the object, the reflection coefficient of the object, and the specular light index are received from the outside of the apparatus or internally calculated, and at least one of the color of the object, the reflection coefficient of the light source, And calculates a color for one point included in the image. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the image generator comprises:
Extracting a depth map of the object and the screen, calculating a reflected light vector, and calculating a color for one point included in the image through the reflected light vector. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated by a plurality of light sources. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the image having the reflected light effect is generated through a plurality of renderings including reflected light rendering. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the medical image data is image data for a target object obtained using an ultrasound diagnostic device, an X-ray diagnostic device, a CT (Computerized Tomography) scanner or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) .

Images