Ultrasound data visualization apparatus

An ultrasound data visualization method for visualizing ultrasound data showing an object during an interventional procedure that includes an object-influence phase during which the object is influenced at a location on the object by applying energy to the object by using an energy application element, a pre-object-influence phase preceding the object-influence phase in time and a post-object-influence phase after the object-influence phase in time, the ultrasound data visualization method comprising:

• providing a temporally dependent ultrasound image of the object;
• and
• using a computer and a display to perform the following steps:
• extracting a constant reference image of the object from the temporally dependent ultrasound image, wherein the constant reference image is automatically identified based on a part of the temporally dependent ultrasound image corresponding to a reference time interval, wherein the reference time interval corresponds to a prior phase of the interventional procedure, wherein the prior phase is different from and precedes a current phase of the interventional procedure in time,
• over a duration of the current phase of the interventional procedure, determining a continuously updating current image of the object based on a part of the temporally dependent ultrasound image, which corresponds to a current time interval, wherein the current time interval corresponds to the current phase of the interventional procedure and wherein the current time interval is less than the duration of the current phase,
• wherein said determining the continuously updating current image comprises:
• adding newly acquired A-lines to the continuously updating current image until the continuously updating current image includes a maximum number of A-lines;
• and
• in response to the continuously updating image being updated to include the maximum number of A-lines, replacing previously acquired A-lines of the continuously updating current image, and not the constant reference image, with newly acquired replacement A-lines,
• over the duration of the current phase, simultaneously displaying, on the display, the constant reference image and the continuously updating current image.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions for visualizing ultrasound data showing an object during an interventional procedure that includes an object-influence phase during which the object is influenced at a location on the object by applying energy to the object by using an energy application element, a pre-object-influence phase preceding the object-influence phase in time and a post-object-influence phase after the object-influence phase in time, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, configure the computer to perform the following steps:

• providing a temporally dependent ultrasound image of the object by an ultrasound image providing unit;
• automatically identifying and extracting a constant reference M-mode image of the object based on a part of the temporally dependent ultrasound image, wherein the constant reference M-mode image corresponds to a reference time interval in a prior phase of the interventional procedure which precedes a current phase of the interventional procedure;
• determining and updating a current M-mode image of the object based on a part of the temporally dependent ultrasound image, which corresponds to a current time interval in the current phase, wherein the current time interval is less than the duration of the current phase, wherein said updating comprises updating the current M-mode image in wrapping fashion, comprising:
• adding newly acquired A-lines to the current M-mode image until the current M-mode image includes a maximum number of A-lines, and
• in response to the current M-mode image being updated to include the maximum number of A-lines, replace previously acquired A-lines of the current M-mode image, and not the reference image, with newly acquired replacement A-lines;
• and
• simultaneously displaying on a display, (i) the constant reference M-mode image and (ii) the current M-mode image while said updating in the wrapping fashion.