Systems and Methods to Detect and Present Interventional Devices via Ultrasound Imaging

A computer-implemented method for providing real-time guidance to an interventional device coupled to an ultrasound imaging system operating in a first mode and a second mode, the method comprising:

• in the first mode:
• stopping transmission of ultrasound signals from a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system,
• transmitting, via an acoustic sensor mounted on a head portion of the interventional device, an ultrasound signal,
• receiving, via the transducer, the transmitted ultrasound signal, and
• generating a first image of a location of the head portion based on the received ultrasound signal;
• in the second mode:
• stopping transmitting ultrasound signals from the acoustic sensor,
• transmitting, via the transducer, ultrasound signals,
• receiving echoes of the transmitted ultrasound signals reflected back from an object structure, and
• generating a second image of the object structure based on the received echoes;
• and
• combining the first image with the second image to derive a third image displaying a location of the head portion relative to the object structure.

An ultrasound imaging apparatus coupled to an interventional device, comprising:

• a transducer to:
• in a first mode, stop transmitting ultrasound signals, and receive an ultrasound signal transmitted by an acoustic sensor mounted on a head portion of the interventional device, wherein the received ultrasound signal is used to generate a first image of a location of the head portion, and
• in a second mode, transmit ultrasound signals, and receive echoes of the transmitted ultrasound signals reflected back from an object structure, wherein the received echoes are used to generate a second image of the object structure;
• and
• a processor coupled to the transducer to combine the first image with the second image to derive a third image displaying a location of the head portion relative to the object structure.