Siemens Healthcare is showing off an upgraded version of the Acuson SC2000 system at the 2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC 2014) Congress in Barcelona.
The new Prime edition of the firm's premium cardiovascular imaging scanner is the first to offer live full-volume color Doppler imaging of heart valve anatomy and blood flow using the company's new true volume transesophageal echo (TEE) probe, Siemens said.
True volume probe technology gives physicians a more anatomically authentic view of the heart and dynamic blood flow in a single view during interventional valve procedures, including in patients with irregular heartbeats, Siemens said. The accuracy of the probe will aid in making faster and more accurate critical decisions, according to the firm.
During 3D TEE imaging current techniques require the "stitching" or fusion of multiple heartbeats to form a complete image of heart and blood flow, the company explained. But the Z6Ms volume TEE probe, with 90° x 90° real-time acquisition and volume color Doppler, enables the acquisition of full 3D images of the heart in every heartbeat without stitching, Siemens said.
Also new for Acuson SC2000 Prime is eSie Valves advanced analysis package -- software to measure heart valves during cardiac procedures, Siemens said. ESie Valves provides automated measurements for the aortic and mitral valves in seconds, allowing physicians to easily evaluate valvular anatomy and physiology, which aids in device sizing and surgical repair.
In addition, a 3D transesophageal probe enables true volume color Doppler visualization of blood flow during interventional procedures, Siemens said.
