Patent ID: 6616610
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of determining a direction of introduction and tracing an introduction path along the direction of introduction of a medical instrument into an organism, with the use of an ultrasound imaging machine suitable for 3D-imaging, comprising the steps of scanning a larger volume of the organism with a 3D-scanning Unit of the ultrasound imaging machine, generating an image of an intended introduction range in a sectional plane within which the introduction path runs, observing the introduction path in an image display of the sectional plane, the sectional plane being located by predeterminable selection criteria and the introduction path being virtually displayed, and selecting a prismatic or cylindrical part of the larger volume for display in a 3D-image in which the introduction path may be observed, the prismatic or cylindrical part of the larger volume having a main axis coaxial with the direction of introduction.