System and method for motion tracking using unique ultrasound echo signatures

A method for tracking a position of a location-of-interest in a subject using an ultrasound system, the steps of the method comprising:

• a) acquiring training data from the subject that indicates a position of a location-of-interest in a subject;
• b) acquiring ultrasound data from the subject using an ultrasound system while the training data is acquired in step a);
• c) forming a position mapping table that relates position information contained in the training data acquired in step a) to the ultrasound data acquired in step b);
• d) tracking a position of the location-of-interest in the subject by:
• i) acquiring ultrasound data from the subject using the ultrasound system;
• and
• ii) comparing the ultrasound data acquired in step d)i) to the ultrasound data contained in the position mapping table so as to identify a position of the location-of-interest based on a unique relationship between the position of the location-of-interest and ultrasound echo signatures of the ultrasound data acquired in steps b) and d)i).