Three Dimensional Reconstruction of a Small Fetal Phantom Using Real-Time Linear Array Ultrasonic Images

Abstract

Earlier investigations have demonstrated that 3D computer assisted estimates of volume and weight of only the fetal head and trunk correlated highly with actual fetal volume and weight. Although the estimates of fetal volume were highly correlated with true volume, volumes less than 1000 ml resulted in larger error estimates due to the inability to image the arms and legs as well as errors introduced by the computer assisted volume estimation methods. The present investigation was conducted to determine if the volume and weight of a small (100 cc.) fetal phantom (head, trunk, arms, legs) could be estimated accurately and rapidly using a limited number of ultrasonic phased array images and a computer assisted 3D mesh generation-rendering system. Ultrasonic ultrasonic images were gathered and the digitized contours used to reconstruct the entire phantom surface as a wire mesh, determine the volume of the phantom and render it for color visualization. Results indicated that the computer estimated volume and weight were within 8% of the actural volume and weight using a limited number of ultrasonic scan images.