MAY 14--A new ultrasound system has been developed that shows clinical 4-D images in real-time motion, allowing physicians and patients a new perspective inside the human body. The GE Medical Systems (www.gemedicalsystems.com/4D) ultrasound system opens the fourth dimension to the medical imaging world. By obtaining 3-D images in real time, up to 16 volumes per second, this technology goes beyond the boundaries of traditional ultrasound.
In real-time 4-D mode, the region of interest is continuously scanned in three dimensions and simultaneously visualized in real time in three orthogonal planes. This opens up a variety of new evaluation opportunities to the physician in both diagnosis and therapy planning, as well as in ultrasound-guided minimum-invasive procedures such as biopsies.
It features real-time 4-D imaging that provides the opportunity to quickly and easily locate images of organs and fetuses to improve the patient experience; improvements in the level of care given through volume measurements; better visualization in interventional procedures by allowing the area of interest to be seen in three planes in real time; and increased patient satisfaction because they will be better able to understand ultrasound images. Scanning techniques can be applied to store visual data so patients don't have to come back to the office.