Patent Document ID: 20100268085
Application ID: 12742255
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for interventional navigation using 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging, the method comprising: acquiring a reference 3D CEUS volume and tracking information for a desired portion of an anatomy that is subject to an interventional procedure with an instrument, wherein the acquiring takes place during a useful lifetime of a contrast enhancement agent administered to the desired portion of the anatomy; acquiring real-time tracked tissue images during the interventional procedure; generating at least one corresponding contrast-enhanced ultrasound image multiplanar reconstruction (CEUS MPR) for at least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images during the interventional procedure as a function of the reference 3D CEUS volume and tracking information; displaying at least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images, wherein the displayed real-time tracked tissue image includes at least an image of the instrument within the desired portion of the anatomy; and displaying the at least one corresponding contrast-enhanced ultrasound image multiplanar reconstruction (CEUS MPR) that corresponds to the displayed real-time tracked tissue image, wherein the CEUS MPR image includes a contrast enhanced MPR image obtained from the reference 3D CEUS volume and includes a target volume of interest, thereby providing a concurrent display of contrast enhanced image information and tissue image information useful for the interventional navigation at least subsequent to the expiration of the contrast enhancement useful lifetime.