title: Three-Dimensional Echocardiography: The Gateway to Virtual Reality!
abstract: Virtual reality (VR) is one of the latest developments in cardiac three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound. A VR heart model linked to 3-D echocardiographic image datasets provides the observers spatial information regarding a 3-D image dataset and prevents the "lost in space effect" in difficult and relevant coupled diseases when integrated into 3-D reconstruction software. Standardized echocardiographic views can be selected within the integrated developed VR heart model, and this is the first step to automatic 3-D computations with minimal operator interaction. VR heart models open exciting opportunities in the field of teaching echocardiographic cardiology, diagnosis, and examinable states.
authors.affiliation: AZR Dijkzigt/Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University, Room BD308b, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bruining
authors.forename: Jos R. T. C.
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roelandt
authors.forename: Gernoth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grunst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berlage
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldinger
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mumm