On-Screen Markers For Out-Of-Plane Needle Guidance

One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computing devices of an ultrasound imaging system to perform one or more operations comprising:

• receiving input data for capturing ultrasound images of a region of interest along a first plane, the input data including an indication that an interventional instrument will be inserted along a second plane into the region of interest, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane;
• capturing the ultrasound images sequentially along the first plane;
• calculating, for a respective particular area of a plurality of particular areas, a probability that the interventional instrument will intersect the respective particular area;
• determining one or more high-confidence areas of the region of interest where the interventional instrument will intersect the first plane based on the probability being above a threshold;
• displaying at least one ultrasound image of the ultrasound images and one or more on-screen markers corresponding to the one or more high-confidence areas;
• detecting that the interventional instrument has intersected the first plane;
• providing an indication on the at least one displayed ultrasound image of a location of the interventional instrument within the first plane;
• and
• automatically reducing a visibility of the one or more on-screen markers when the interventional instrument is detected to have intersected the first plane.

A method comprising:

• receiving input data for capturing ultrasound images of a region of interest along a first plane, the input data including an indication that an interventional instrument will be inserted along a second plane into the region of interest, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane;
• capturing the ultrasound images sequentially along the first plane;
• calculating, based on the input data and the ultrasound images, a probability that the interventional instrument will intersect the first plane at a respective particular area of a plurality of particular areas;
• determining one or more high-confidence areas of the region of interest where the interventional instrument will intersect the first plane based on the probability being above a threshold;
• displaying at least one ultrasound image of the ultrasound images and one or more on-screen markers corresponding to the one or more high-confidence areas;
• dynamically changing the one or more on-screen markers as the interventional instrument moves closer to the first plane;
• detecting that the interventional instrument has intersected the first plane;
• and
• providing an indication on the at least one displayed ultrasound image of a location of the interventional instrument within the first plane.