Echocardiography System Acquires Full-Volume Images in Single Heartbeat

New imaging technology represents the latest in the evolution of echocardiography, providing instantaneous, full-volume images of the heart in one single heartbeat--without gating or stitching.

Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) presented the 1.2 release of its Acuson SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system at the 59th annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), March 14-16, 2010, in Atlanta (GA, USA). This new release of the Acuson SC2000 system features unique technologies and applications that improve diagnostic confidence and workflow in echocardiography.

"Siemens' Echo in a Heartbeat technology delivers vastly more diagnostic information than today's conventional systems, while simultaneously accelerating clinical workflow,” said Dr. Linda Calhoun, cardiologist at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC; Wilmington, NC, USA). "We're imaging the whole heart in one single beat, before segmenting it to achieve views we previously haven't been able to see, with an image quality that is amazing.”

Full-volume imaging enables new workflow pathways to improve diagnostic efficiency: According to Dr. Calhoun, the instantaneous full-volume technology also reduces time-to-diagnosis. "Using the Acuson SC2000 system, we see a considerable decrease of examination time; traditional echocardiograms can take up to one hour. Thus, we are able to arrive more quickly at the diagnosis, at the cause of our patients' heart failures or the severity of their heart disease, so they can be treated more quickly,” Dr. Calhoun said.

The system delivers excellent volume imaging that can be easily integrated into a routine adult echocardiography scan. Nonstitched, real-time full-volume imaging provides wider access to patients and captures true physiologic information including color flow and accurate volume quantification for the left and right ventricle.

Moreover, the system features the Rapid Stress volume stress echo application, with full-volume acquisition in one single heartbeat per stage and autoextraction of reference planes for comparison. The resulting volume stress workflow enables the only volume stress echo solution for patients with arrhythmia. Consequently, faster acquisition time and comprehensive review of all wall segments in one single capture leads to potentially improved accuracy and timesavings.

Extending the transmit technology pioneered in the Acuson Sequoia ultrasound system, the new system features unique IN Focus coherent imaging. Without the need to continuously set and select a given location of best focus, IN Focus technology sharpens the full-field image at all times--without sacrificing frame rate. Building on the AcusonSequoia 4V1c transducer technology, the Acuson SC2000 system offers continuous full-field transmit focusing using the power of 64 receive beams, maximizing the imaging information rate to better resolve the cardiac structure and motion for superior diagnostic volumetric imaging.

An innovative approach to workflow enhancement is eSieScan Workflow Protocols, which streamline exam workflows, both on the user level and in the entire lab. Customizable and based on user or department requirements, eSieScan protocols dramatically reduce the need for user interaction and the number of keystrokes during the imaging process.

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