Stereoscopic visualization of 3D ultrasonic data for the diagnosis improvement of breast tumors

Presents a stereoscopic visualization technique applied to three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasonic data of the breast. A motorized mechanical set-up has been designed to provide a series of two-dimensional (2-D) parallel echographic slices of the breast from the regular translation of a linear phased array transducer. During the acquisition step, the breast is compressed between a plane support and a plexiglass plate to avoid breast motions. Two simulated conical X-ray projections of the acquired volume are computed under two slightly different points of view. These two projections constitute the ultrasonic pair which is displayed to restitute the depth of the 3-D breast tumours