3D tracking of interventional medical devices

A method for tracking an interventional medical device in three dimensions, the method comprising:

• determining a three-dimensional (3D) location of the interventional medical device using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound imaging, wherein the 2D ultrasound imaging comprises a two-plane mode that obtains responses from a sensor on the interventional medical device;
• and
• modifying ultrasound beam patterns fired in the two-plane mode based on the 3D location of the interventional medical device,
• wherein the 3D location comprises a X-coordinate, a Y-coordinate, and a Z-coordinate,
• wherein determining the X-coordinate and the Z-coordinate comprises:
• determining a combination of an elevation plane and an azimuthal plane in the two-plane mode that obtains a maximum sensor response from the sensor;
• determining, based on the maximum sensor response, a first location of the interventional medical device in the elevation plane to be the X-coordinate;
• and
• determining, based on the maximum sensor response, a second location of the interventional medical device in the azimuthal plane to be the Z-coordinate;
• wherein the Y-coordinate is determined based on an inter-plane angle between the elevation plane and the azimuthal plane.

A system for tracking an interventional medical device in three dimensions, the system comprising:

• an interventional medical device;
• an ultrasound probe that captures imagery in a space that includes the interventional medical device;
• and
• a processor in communication with a memory, wherein the processor configured to:
• determine a three-dimensional (3D) location of the interventional medical device using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound imaging, wherein the 2D ultrasound imaging comprises a two-plane mode configured to obtain responses from a sensor on the interventional medical device;
• and
• modify ultrasound beam patterns fired in the two-plane mode based on the 3D location of the interventional medical device,
• wherein the 3D location comprises a X-coordinate, a Y-coordinate, and a Z-coordinate,
• wherein, to determine the X-coordinate and the Z-coordinate, the processor is configured to:
• determine a combination of an elevation plane and an azimuthal plane in the two-plane mode that obtains a maximum sensor response from the sensor;
• based on the maximum sensor response, a first location of the interventional medical device in the elevation plane to be the X-coordinate;
• and
• determine, based on the maximum sensor response, a second location of the interventional medical device in the azimuthal plane to be the Z-coordinate,
• wherein the processor is configured to determine the Y-coordinate based on an inter-plane angle between the elevation plane and the azimuthal plane.