3D volume file
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What is a 3D volume file?
This is an explanation of a 3D volume file.
It also explains the difference with a regular 3D ultrasound image.
During a 2D ultrasound the sonographer gathers images of the baby with a transducer through the mother's abdomen wall.
The transducer transmits ultrasound waves which are undetectable by the human ear. These sound waves reflect on the baby and return as a sort of echo of the transmitted ultrasound waves. The transducer receives the echo's and translates these in a black and white ultrasound image.
The transducer transmits ultrasound waves which are undetectable by the human ear. These sound waves reflect on the baby and return as a sort of echo of the transmitted ultrasound waves. The transducer receives the echo's and translates these in a black and white ultrasound image.
During a 3D ultrasound this is done in a similar way by a special 3D transducer. In stead of a single black and white 2D ultrasound image a great number of consecutive black and white 2D images are generated. Because the angle by which the transducer transmits the ultrasound waves is shifted slightly with each obtained image, every image in the series of acquired images reflects a different image of the baby. This series of multi slice black and white 2D images can be saved by the ultrasound technician as a 3D volume file. Often this is not part of the standard procedure during a 3D 4D ultrasound session.
The series of consecutive multi slice black and white 2D images are rendered by software of the ultrasound machine's computer into a (often coloured) 3D ultrasound image. Actually the name 3D ultrasound image is confusing, because the regular "3D ultrasound image" is actually 2D, only heigth and width without depth. The depth of the "3D image" is created with light and shadows and makes our brain perceive it as a three dimensional image.
These computer generated coloured images of the 3D ultrasound are normally saved in image files by the ultrasound technician during a 3D 4D ultrasound session. Usually you will get some prints of these images and often the single slice images are put on a CD-rom for you to take home.
These images of the 3D ultrasound ("3D ultrasound images") do not contain the great number of underlying 2D images, which are necessary for any computer to be able to reconstruct a 3D model. The "3D ultrasound image" is actually a regular picture, with just height and width, without depth information.
We are NOT able to create a 3D baby model out of a "regular 3D ultrasound image". A 3D volume file is crucial for us to do so as earlier said the 3D volume file contains the total image data (heighth, width and depth) as a great number of 2D ultrasound images.
A multi slice 3D volume file can be recognized by the file size. The file size is minimal 3MB, usually even larger, because the file contains of a large number of images. A regular image of a 3D ultrasound is much smaller, maximum 1MB, usually even smaller, because the file contains just one images.
Not every 3D ultrasound machine is capable of saving a 3D volume file in a usable format, because not all ultrasound machine manufacturers are willing to comply to an agreed standard (Dicom standard). They make a profit on making and selling very expensive medical software for use on stand alone computers.
We have developed software to process 3D volume files.
At this moment we can process 3D volume files (at least 3MB) in the following file formats:
- Dicom ( .dcm , .dicom in the file name) of among others newer Philips 3D ultrasound machines
- MVL ( .mvl in the file name) of among others Medison ultrasound machines (accuvix XQ, 8000 LV)
- (multi) TIF ( . tif in the file name)
We are NOT able to create a 3D baby model out of a "regular 3D ultrasound image". A 3D volume file is crucial for us to do so as earlier said the 3D volume file contains the total image data (heighth, width and depth) as a great number of 2D ultrasound images.
A multi slice 3D volume file can be recognized by the file size. The file size is minimal 3MB, usually even larger, because the file contains of a large number of images. A regular image of a 3D ultrasound is much smaller, maximum 1MB, usually even smaller, because the file contains just one images.
Not every 3D ultrasound machine is capable of saving a 3D volume file in a usable format, because not all ultrasound machine manufacturers are willing to comply to an agreed standard (Dicom standard). They make a profit on making and selling very expensive medical software for use on stand alone computers.
We have developed software to process 3D volume files.
At this moment we can process 3D volume files (at least 3MB) in the following file formats:
- Dicom ( .dcm , .dicom in the file name) of among others newer Philips 3D ultrasound machines
- MVL ( .mvl in the file name) of among others Medison ultrasound machines (accuvix XQ, 8000 LV)
- (multi) TIF ( . tif in the file name)
Important information!
We want to advise you to read this explanation of a 3D volume file completely, as we experience that many clients try to order a 3D baby model from a regular 3D ultrasound image.
The information on this page explains what a 3D volume file is and might avoid wrong expectations and disappointment.
The information also helps future clients to know what to ask for when they make their appointment with a 3D 4D ultrasound business.