A new integrated system for three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction and ventricular volume measurement

A system has been developed which automatically integrates, a real time, the two-dimensional ultrasound images, electrocardiogram (ECG), and positional data necessary for 3-D reconstruction, with time and storage requirements that are no more than those for an ordinary 2-D echocardiographic study. This system was validated by reconstructing and measuring the volumes of a series of gel-filled ventricular phantoms as well as excised ventricles of known size. Experimental volumes from the reconstruction were derived by integrating the region enclosed by a continuous surface that conforms to the shape of the reconstructed traces. The results agreed well with directly measured cavity volumes (average difference < 5%)