Rapid 3D Transesophageal Echocardiography using a fast-rotating multiplane transducer

3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) with acquisition gating for electrocardiogram (ECG) and respiration is slow, cumbersome for the patient and prone to motion artifacts. We realized a rapid 3D TEE solution based on a standard multiplane TEE probe, extended with a fast-rotating transducer array (FR-TEE). The fast left-right rotation allows acquisition of sufficient image data from the entire rotation range for the full heart cycle within one breath-hold. No ECG- or respiration-gating is applied. In normal mode, the probe has uncompromised optimal 2D quality. 10 seconds of image data with ECG and angle values are recorded and post-processed with specially developed 4D reconstruction software based on normalized convolution interpolation. High quality 3D images of phantoms were acquired, accurately depicting the imaged objects. Sequences of reconstructed 3D volumes of a cyclic moving (4D) balloon phantom show only minimal temporal artifacts. Preliminary results on 5 open-chest pigs and 3 humans showed the overall anatomy as well as valvular details with good diagnostic accuracy and high temporal and spatial resolution. A bicuspid aortic valve was diagnosed from the 3D reconstructions and confirmed by a separate 2D exam, proving the 3D diagnostic capabilities of FR-TEE.