Method and system for enhanced visualization of moving structures with cross-plane ultrasound images

A system comprising:

• an ultrasound probe configured to continuously acquire a first cross-plane image and a second cross-plane image that intersects the first cross-plane image at a cross-plane intersection line of the first cross-plane image;
• a display system configured to continuously and simultaneously present the acquired first cross-plane image and the acquired second cross-plane image;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• superimpose the cross-plane intersection line on the first cross-plane image continuously presented at the display system;
• receive a user selection of a reference position at a point on the cross-plane intersection line of the first cross-plane image, wherein the selected reference position corresponds with at least a portion of a structure in the first cross-plane image;
• superimpose a marker corresponding with the reference position on the first cross-plane image continuously presented at the display system;
• track movement of the selected reference position in the first cross-plane image over time;
• update an image acquisition position parameter of the second cross-plane image based on the tracked reference position such that the second cross-plane image intersects the first cross-plane image at the tracked reference position;
• and
• simultaneously shift the cross-plane intersection line with the marker superimposed on the first cross-plane image based on the movement of the tracked reference position over time.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

• continuously acquiring a first cross-plane image and a second cross-plane image that intersects the first cross-plane image at a cross-plane intersection line of the first cross-plane image;
• continuously presenting the acquired first cross-plane image and the acquired second cross-plane image simultaneously at a display system, wherein the cross-plane intersection line is overlaid on the first cross-plane image continuously presented at the display system;
• receiving a user selection of a reference position at a point on the cross-plane intersection line of the first cross-plane image, wherein the selected reference position corresponds with at least a portion of a structure in the first cross-plane image, and wherein a marker corresponding with the reference position is overlaid on the first cross-plane image continuously presented at the display system;
• tracking movement of the selected reference position in the first cross-plane image over time;
• updating an image acquisition position parameter of the second cross-plane image based on the tracked reference position such that the second cross-plane image intersects the first cross-plane image at the tracked reference position;
• and
• simultaneously shifting the cross-plane intersection line with the marker overlaid on the first cross-plane image based on the tracking of the movement of the selected reference position in the first cross-plane image over time.