Philips X7-2 Transducer

At the ongoing 2006 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions meeting, Philips has introduced its latest echo transducer, a “4D” instrument for cardiac evals of infants and children:

Introduced for the first time, the Philips X7-2 x-MATRIX array transducer is part of a robust pediatric and congenital heart disease solution that affords small patients the same imaging, quantification and cardiac management benefits that adults attain from Live real-time 3D echocardiography (echo), an ultrasound of the heart. The speed at which volumetric data are captured and the non-invasive nature of ultrasound enables clinicians to obtain high-quality images and data quickly and easily, while potentially reducing young patients’ emotional and physical stress, and providing surgeons with pre-operative views of cardiac anatomy and function.
Additionally, the Philips X7-2 transducer, in conjunction with QLAB quantification software, allows cardiologists to evaluate a pediatric patient’s heart and closely examine structures, blood flow and function for enhanced diagnosis and treatment planning.

Company’s xMATRIX technology is very cool:

Using breakthrough array technology with elements smaller than a human hair, xMATRIX transducer technology provides volume acquisitions of the beating heart with truly remarkable image quality. Our xMATRIX transducers are ergonomically designed and harness the power of 150 computer boards. Now, the new X7-2 xMATRIX transducer joins the X3-1 transducer on the iE33 system. The X7-2 was specifically designed for pediatric applications and provides another significant milestone in Live 3D Echo by combining PureWave crystal technology with 3D xMATRIX transducer design technology.
XMATRIX technology also enables Live xPlane imaging — the ability to acquire two planes simultaneously from the same heartbeat. The system’s multi-directional beam steering lets you select unlimited planes in all directions, so you can get the precise view you want, with no degradation in image quality.

The other cool thing about the technology is how the piezoelectric material for such transducers is made. Read about it here: PureWave Transducer Technology.
More from: press release; product page; xMATRIX array technology page…