4D Ultrasound System Can Track and Display Myocardial Motion

Using a new four dimensional (4D) real-time ultrasound system with multi-planar reformatting capabilities, physicians can assess global and regional left ventricular (LV) function, including volumetric LV ejection fraction. Arbitrary views of the heart, not available in 2D imaging, are also obtained to help with surgical planning.

To offer its students access to the most advanced medical technology available, Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT; Klamath Falls, USA) has acquired the Toshiba Medical Systems' (Tokyo, Japan) Aplio Artida 4D ultrasound system. The acquisition of the advanced ultrasound system will make OIT the first undergraduate program in the United States to offer courses in 4D ultrasound imaging. "Our goal is to train OIT students using the newest, most advanced technology, to prepare them for high-tech, high-demand careers in healthcare," explained OIT's Brad Burda, acting provost and interim dean, School of Health, Arts and Sciences, Oregon Institute of Technology. "By using the Artida, one of the most advanced 4D ultrasound systems available, our students will gain the comprehensive skills necessary to meet today's healthcare demands."

The 2D/3D wall motion tracking features from Toshiba allow the user to obtain angle-independent, global, and regional information about myocardial contraction. It is hoped these features will enable acquisition of additional data that could be of value in echo-guided cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and in stress echocardiography. Artida includes additional features that enhance diagnostic capabilities, including multiple processors that run synchronously, which allows for handling large amounts of data.

"Toshiba specifically designed the Artida to meet the needs of the growing 4D cardiac market," explained Gordon Parhar, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. "As the first ultrasound system in the world with the ability to track and display myocardial motion and 3D volumes in 3D images, OIT students will learn new imaging techniques that will set future healthcare standards."

Since the Artida's multiple processor design brings echocardiography to a new level of imaging performance and clarity, OIT plans to use the Artida 4D ultrasound system in its new echocardiography program. The Artida employs the distributed processing power of more than 80 processor cores interconnected by a fast digital system interface. The Artida's engine is so powerful that every single second it can process an amount of data equal to a fully loaded DVD.

Artida's MultiCast Beamformer uses sophisticated digital signal processing to control the shape of the ultrasound beam more precisely and flexibly than in comparable systems. Significant performance improvements, such as a simultaneous multiple transmit focus or a doubled frame rate in color Doppler mode help expedite exams while improving diagnostic accuracy.

A variety of prospective and retrospective volume acquisition modes provide the freedom and flexibility to easily acquire and store 4D volumes as raw data. The easy-to-use volume navigation is delay free and enables fast and accurate surfing of the volumes at any time, on the system or offline. Artida's intuitive SmartSlice functions allow physicians to cut, slice and position the 4D volume quickly and conveniently.

In addition to the Artida 4D ultrasound system, OIT uses 20 Toshiba Xario ultrasound systems in its programs such as diagnostic medical sonography, vascular technology, and echocardiography. OIT offers the only hands-on training ultrasound bachelor's degree in Oregon and is one of only three schools in the United States that offers a vascular technology bachelor's degree.

Toshiba Medical Systems, an independent group company of Toshiba Corp., is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging and other comprehensive medical systems.

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Toshiba Medical Systems
Oregon Institute of Technology