There is disclosed an embodiment for extracting anatomical features from a
3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image for image registration. A
system extracts anatomical features from a 3-dimensional B-mode
ultrasound liver image for image registration. An image forming unit
forms a 3-dimensional ultrasound liver image based on ultrasound signals
reflected from the liver. A diaphragm extracting unit extracts a
diaphragm region from the 3-dimensional B-mode ultrasound liver image. A
vessel extracting unit extracts vessel regions from the 3-dimensional
ultrasound liver image. A diaphragm refining unit refines the extracted
diaphragm region with the extracted vessel regions to remove clutters
from the diaphragm region. A registration unit extracts sample points
from the diaphragm region with the clutters removed and the vessel
regions for image registration.