Ultrasonic dynamic three-dimensional visualization of the heart with a multiplane transesophageal imaging transducer

Dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography enables objective analysis of structures and pathologic conditions of complex geometry. In addition, it may provide more accurate quantitative analysis of cardiac function. This study presents the first results obtained with multiplane transesophageal diagnostic imaging system that is connected to a dedicated software configuration allowing three-dimensional tissue reconstruction and its dynamic display at 25 frames/sec. In addition, it permits "computer slicing" through the beating heart along arbitrary orientations and the display of synthetic cross sections along these orientations with excellent resolution and grey values (dynamic anyplane echocardiography). The advantage of a multiplane transesophageal imaging transducer is that the acquisition of cross sections for three-dimensional reconstruction becomes an integral part of a routine diagnostic transesophageal study and only requires an additional 7 to 10 minutes of examination time. This approach will help to develop three-dimensional echocardiography and synthetic anyplane echocardiography into a practical clinical tool offering diagnostic information similar to magnetic resonance imaging.