A new calibration method in 3D ultrasonic imaging system

The authors´ three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonic imaging system is constructed from a B-Mode ultrasound scanner, a magnetometer-based position and orientation measurement system (Flock of Birds), and a personal computer. To accurately determine the relationship between the magnetic receiver and the image plane, the authors propose a new calibration method which determines the system calibration parameters by measuring a triangular pyramid phantom. The new method not only reduces the effect of the thickness and divergence of the ultrasound beam, but also improves the efficiency of the algorithm