The Future of 3D-Echo

The Future of 3D-Echo

With the rapid advances in digital image processing 3Dimaging

is probably just at the beginning of its evolution with

a number of innovations already approaching. The integration

of 3D-systems into conventional scanners and operator

friendly applications will reduce the time and effort required

to obtain 3D-images. Improvements in 2-dimensional

imaging and 3-dimensional reconstruction software will lead

to enhanced image quality. Novel ways of image representation

such as stereoscopy, holography or the generation of

physical 3D-models (Figure 6) could enhance our perception

of cardiac structures [17, 18].

Further advances in real-time 3-dimensional imaging and

the advent of real-time 3D-color Doppler will generate 3-dimensional

images directly on the screen during the investigation,

making the technique as simple as using Doppler or Mmode

features [19]. And, finally, other echocardiographic

modalities such as contrast echocardiography, tissue Doppler

imaging or intracardiac ultrasound could benefit from a

3-dimensional display format [20].

Some of these developments could soon become available
while others are still experimental. Despite present limitations
3-dimensional imaging could soon be considered as a
milestone in echocardiography along with M-mode, 2-dimensional
imaging or Doppler techniques.