Volumetric imaging

A method for planning an ablation procedure prior to performing the procedure, the method comprising:

• receiving volumetric image data representing a volume of patient tissue, the volumetric image data being constructed from a series of two-dimensional images of the patient tissue and including a virtual needle, each of the images in the series of two-dimensional images being generated by a visualization system that is configured to generate the series of two dimensional images based on an axis extending through the virtual needle and the volumetric image data representing the volume of patient tissue, wherein the virtual needle comprises a cryoneedle;
• initiating a virtual cryoablation procedure by generating a virtual treatment volume about a feature of the patient tissue with the cryoneedle;
• segmenting the virtual needle within the volumetric image data such that the virtual needle defines a longitudinal axis extending through the volume;
• generating a first cross-sectional, two-dimensional view of the volume, the first cross-sectional, two-dimensional view showing a first plane through the volume in which the axis defined by the virtual needle lies;
• displaying the first cross-sectional, two-dimensional view on a display;
• and
• generating and displaying a second cross-sectional, two-dimensional view of the volume, the second cross-sectional, two-dimensional view showing a second plane through the volume in which the longitudinal axis defined by the virtual needle lies, the second plane being different from the first plane, intersecting the first plane at an angle so as to be noncoplanar with the first plane, and being coaxial with the first plane along the longitudinal axis of the virtual needle;
• comparing a first dimension of the feature of the patient tissue to a first dimension of the virtual treatment volume in the first cross-sectional, two-dimensional view;
• and
• comparing a second dimension of the feature of the patient tissue to a second dimension of the virtual treatment volume in the second cross-sectional, two-dimensional view.