Patent ID: 7925068

Claim:
A method for producing a three-dimensional guide image of an object comprising: insonifying the object with a free hand scan of the object using an external ultrasound probe; receiving, at the probe, first return echoes from the object, the first return echoes representing cross-sectional planes through the object; processing the first return echoes to generate a 3D data set comprising a 3D representation of representing the object; comparing the 3D data set with a plurality of differently shaped 3D candidate models of the object; selecting a best fit 3D model from among the candidate 3D models responsive to the step of comparing, the best fit model serving as the 3D guide image; and superimposing a current 2D ultrasound scan plane over the best fit model serving as the 3D guide image, the guide image for use by an operator as the current 2D scan plane is generated to control the ultrasound probe to ensure desired regions of the object are insonified during the 2D ultrasound scan.