Sorry for the delayed response, I’m just back from vacation. This ultrasound volume is a GE Kretzfile image, which can be loaded into Slicer:
- install SlicerHeart extension and restart Slicer
- delete DICOMDIR file from the folder where you want to import DICOM images from
- drag-and-drop the folder to Slicer application window and choose to import the folder into DICOM database
- switch to DICOM module
- check “Advanced” checkbox
- click “Examine” button
- check the checkbox in the row of US…, US … (LR), or US … (HR) in the table at the bottom (for normal, low, or high resolution import)
- click “Load” button
I’ve pushed a change to SlicerHeart extension to simplify loading in the future, by automatically recognizing this file type (it was not recognized before because the manufacturer name in the DICOM header was not the usual value).
Tips for processing the data set:
- Pre-processing: create a new segment, segment bright areas of the volume using Threshold effect, remove irrelevant parts from the segmentation (noisy areas, reflections, etc. will be removed, only the skin surface will remain) using Scissors effect.
- This pre-processed segment can be exported for 3D printing as is.
- You can use this segment as a mask for 3D visualization using volume rendering: Save the scene, install “SegmentEditorExtraEffects” extension, restart Slicer, load the saved scene. Make the segment a bit larger by using Margin effect (3mm growing should work). Use Mask volume to create a masked volume (where areas outside the segment are set to 0). Go to Volume rendering module, select the masked volume, choose MR-Default preset, click eye icon, adjust Shift slider.
