Real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Technology

Background:

• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is crucial for patients with suboptimal transthoracic echocardiographic windows.
• Detailed imaging of structures distant from the chest wall often necessitates advanced echocardiographic techniques.
• Existing TEE methods may have limitations in providing comprehensive volumetric data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate a novel real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe.
• To enhance the diagnostic information available during transesophageal procedures.
• To assess the feasibility of the 3D TEE probe for in vivo cardiac imaging.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 1 cm diameter esophageal probe with a 2D, 5 MHz array (504 channels).
• Utilized a multilayer flexible (MLF) interconnect circuit and Gore MicroFlat cable for signal transmission.
• Conducted pulse-echo tests and pitch-catch measurements to evaluate probe performance (bandwidth, insertion loss).
• Integrated the 3D TEE probe with a Volumetrics Medical Imaging 3D scanner for in vivo imaging.

Main Results:

• The probe demonstrated a -6 dB bandwidth of 25.3% in water tank tests.
• Insertion loss measurements showed an average of -85 dB with a standard deviation of 4 dB.
• Successfully acquired real-time volumetric images of canine cardiac anatomy, including atrial views and mitral valve function.
• Demonstrated utility in interventional catheter guidance.

Conclusions:

• The developed real-time 3D TEE probe effectively acquires high-quality volumetric cardiac images.
• This technology offers enhanced visualization for diagnosing cardiac conditions and guiding interventions.
• The probe represents a significant advancement in transesophageal echocardiography for cardiovascular imaging.