Multiplane Transthoracic Echocardiography: Image Orientation, Anatomic Correlation, and Clinical Experience with a Prototype Phased Array Multiplane Surface Probe

Abstract

Multiplane transthoracic echocardiography provides numerous sequential images by rotation of the transducer imaging array through 180 degrees with the surface probe at a fixed site. We explored the potential of this new technique with a 3.7/5-MHz prototype multiplane transthoracic probe. Echoanatomic correlations were first examined in ten explanted hearts. The transducer was then applied in 30 normal humans at transthoracic acoustic windows to determine the imaging planes available. Use of this probe in 76 patients with various cardiac disorders indicated that this probe eases the procedure of transthoracic echocardiographic examination, provides incremental information for improved delineation and understanding of cardiac pathology, and yields many novel insights to echocardiographic interpretation. Multiplane transthoracic echocardiography appears to expand the versatility of transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography.

Occupational musculoskeletal pain in cardiac sonographers compared to peer employees: a multisite cross‐sectional study

“…Evaluations of different models of echocardiography console and ultrasound probe design might prove helpful . Industry advances in technology including multiplane imaging from single probe positioning or three‐dimensional image acquisition with offline postprocessing may also eventually prove beneficial …”