Determining at least one final two-dimensional image for visualizing an object of interest in a three dimensional ultrasound volume

A method for determining at least one final two-dimensional image, the method comprises the steps:

• a) providing a three-dimensional image of a body region of a patient body, wherein an object of interest is located in the body region;
• b) providing an initial direction;
• c) repeating the following sequence of steps s1) to s4):
• s1) determining, via a processing unit, a set-direction within the three-dimensional image based on the initial direction for the first sequence or based on a probability map determined during a previous sequence;
• s2) extracting, via the processing unit, an image-set of two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional image, such that the two-dimensional images of the image-set are arranged coaxially and subsequently in the set-direction;
• s3) applying, via the processing unit, an applicator pre-trained classification method to each of the two-dimensional images of the image-set resulting in a probability score for each of the two-dimensional images of the image-set indicating a probability of the applicator being depicted, in particular fully depicted, in the respective two-dimensional image of the image-set in a cross-sectional view;
• and
• s4) determining, via the processing unit, a probability-map representing the probability scores of the two-dimensional images of the image-set with respect to the set-direction;
• wherein the method comprises the further step:
• d) determining, via a processing unit and after finishing the last sequence, the two-dimensional image associated with the highest probability score, in particular from the image-set determined during the last sequence, as the final two-dimensional image.

A computer program element stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, for controlling a device, that includes

• an input interface;
• and
• a processing unit;
• wherein the input interface is configured to receive a three-dimensional image of a body region of a patient body, wherein an object of interest is located in the body region;
• wherein the processing unit is configured to randomly determine an initial direction within the three-dimensional image, to receive a signal representing the initial direction via the input interface or to access a predefined direction as the initial direction;
• wherein the processing unit is configured to repeat the following sequence of steps s1) to s4):
• s1) to determine a set-direction within the three-dimensional image based on the initial direction for the first sequence or based on a probability map determined during a previous sequence;
• s2) to extract an image-set of two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional image, such that the two-dimensional images of the image-set are arranged coaxially and subsequently in the set-direction;
• s3) to apply an object of interest pre-trained classification method to each of the two-dimensional images of the image-set resulting in a probability score for each of the two-dimensional images of the image-set indicating a probability of the object of interest being depicted, in particular fully depicted, in the respective two-dimensional image of the image-set in a cross-sectional view;
• and
• s4) to determine a probability-map representing the probability scores of the two-dimensional images of the image-set with respect to the set-direction;
• wherein the processing unit is configured to determine, after finishing the last sequence, the two-dimensional image associated with the highest probability score, in particular from the image-set determined during the last sequence, as the final two-dimensional image.