Method and system for performing real time navigation of ultrasound volumetric data

An ultrasound system, comprising:

• a probe having a 2D array of transducers acquiring ultrasound information along a plurality of scan lines through an object in real time, said scan lines being arranged to define data volumes within the object;
• a beamformer having scan parameters that define said scan lines, said scan parameters having parameter values;
• an image buffer storing multiple data volumes successively acquired over time;
• a display processor accessing said data volumes stored in said image buffer successively to control generation of at least one of 2D and 3D renderings based on display parameters. wherein said display processor obtains from said image buffer a first data volume defined based on first scan parameter values, while said probe acquires ultrasound information for a second data volume that is entered into said image buffer, said second data volume being defined based on second scan parameter values;
• a navigation view presenting in real time the said renderings generated by said display processor with their corresponding 3D orientation;
• a navigator controlling display of said navigation view in real time such that, as the user adjusts a display parameter value to change a view plane, images presented in said navigation view are updated to reflect said view plane;
• and
• a user interface configure to adjust said scan and display parameter values.