US Patent 11378550 Surface extraction for ultrasonic images using path energy

A system and method used to image cylindrical fluid conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with ultrasound transducers then process the ultrasound images to detect edges and surfaces. The device and method compute monotonic paths through high energy pixels. Functions are used for dropping, extending and selecting an optimal path based on certain criteria, such as path length, path continuity and path energy. The selected path may be used to model and visualize the tubular along with key features, components and defects in 2D and 3D.