An endoscopic micromanipulator for multiplanar transesophageal imaging.
We have developed an esophageal probe with a precision micromanipulator and a transversely oriented 32 element ultrasonic array which operates at 3.5 MHz. The probe allows us to obtain multiple two-dimensional images of the heart with known angular relationships between them over a series of cardiac cycles. Our ultimate purpose is to acquire images for left ventricular volume estimation with a three-dimensional reconstruction method. Technical details of the probe design are given. In vitro tests have shown that the imaging plane can be angulated within 1.5 degree root mean square error. In vivo results with dogs have demonstrated its ability to obtain multiplanar short axis images of the heart.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D019723:Endoscopes; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008433:Mathematics; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008954:Models, Biological; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*