A Low-Cost Camera-Based Ultrasound Probe Tracking System: Design and Prototype

• Published in: 2019 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS) pp. 997 - 999
• Main Authors: Cai, Qianqian, Peng, Chang, Prieto, Juan C., Rosenbaum, Alan J., Stringer, Jeffrey S. A., Jiang, Xiaoning
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.10.2019
• Subjects: camera-based tracking; freehand ultrasound; Image reconstruction; Imaging; obstetric ultrasound; Probes; Sensors; Three-dimensional displays; Tracking; Ultrasonic imaging
• DOI: 10.1109/ULTSYM.2019.8925631

Real-time probe motion information may enhance the information gathered by ultrasound probes and permit the use of artificial intelligence or computer vision to reduce dependence upon a sonographers' knowledge and skill in the performance of ultrasound studies. Multiple types of tracking sensors and their combinations are integrated with ultrasound machines to provide real-time six degree of freedom (6-DOF) probe motion information. The accuracy and the precision of the tracking data are significant to the quality of obtained frames for all image dimensions. In this study, we proposed a system that integrates the camera-based tracking with an ultrasound device for obstetric ultrasound imaging. The tracking resolutions for position and orientation were evaluated to be less than 1 mm and 1°, respectively. Imaging tests with a fetus phantom was further conducted to verify the feasibility of camera-based probe tracking in obstetric ultrasound. The scanning frames were found to be repeatable with the aid of real-time probe motion.