A fast rotating scanning unit for real-time three-dimensional echo data acquisition.

Most three-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography (3-DE) systems today are based on off-line methods where a large number of cross-sectional 2-D scans have to be acquired sequentially before a 3-D image can be reconstructed. Because acquisition is done step-by-step based on ECG triggering plus respiratory gating, this introduces motion artefacts and takes significant acquisition time. Another 3-D approach is based on 2-D transducers and parallel beam-forming. Such a system is very complex. In this manuscript, a fast continuously-rotating scanning unit, based on a 64-element phased-array transducer, is described. Typical rotation speed of the 3-D unit is 8 rotations per s. Therefore, 16 3-D volume datasets can be acquired per s in real-time. The first clinical examples as acquired with this probe are presented.

Micromultiplane transesophageal echocardiographic probe for intraoperative study of congenital heart disease repair in neonates, infants, children, and adults.

This study reports the development of a micromultiplane 8.2-mm transesophageal echocardiographic probe. The probe is applicable to newborn infants and can deliver diagnostic images in adults.

Two decades of transesophageal phased array probes.

After its introduction about two decades ago, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has rapidly evolved into an important diagnostic feature for the cardiologist, since it offers anatomic and hemodynamic information which cannot be obtained precordially. Part of this success was due to the developments in transducer technology which resulted in smaller probes with progressively better imaging qualities. A short review of past, recent and future developments of TEE phased array probes, in particular those at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, will be given. Furthermore, this article discusses basic parameters of the transducer dictating image quality such as centre frequency, array aperture and focusing illustrated with several simulations. The simulations show that a poor design of the transducer will limit the resolution and will give artefacts in the two-dimensional image.

Transesophageal transducer technology: an overview.

Early developments and basic principles in the field of Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) probe technology are summarized. Mechanical and electronical sector scanners are compared, and several probe characteristics and image parameters are discussed. A short review of recent developments in TEE is given.