An interesting ultrasound technology is being tested that aims to quantitatively evaluate ventricular function and regional wall motion abnormalities, to better document and follow up cardiac dynamics. Researchers from Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital are using new ultrasound software from VisualSonics of Toronto, Canada to visualize the precise movement of mice hearts. VisualSonics’ VevoStrain is a proprietary version of speckle-tracking echocardiography which the researchers have found is effective in assessing global left ventricular function. The first animation shows a normal mouse heart and the second is suffering from the left ventricular failure after an infarct.
From the product page:
Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel method for determining strain and strain rate. The tracking system is based on the distance measurement between 2 stable patterns, or “speckles” on a 2D or 3D echocardiographic image of a left ventricular heart segment during the cardiac cycle. Unlike Doppler-derived strain imaging, STE is angle-independent, thereby minimizing variabilities in the quantification of regional and global LV function.
VevoStrain software, is a new quantification tool available with the Vevo 2100 which uses B-Mode speckle-tracking analysis to track wall motion abnormalities. This tool provides both regional and global wall motion tracking, offering quantification of the velocity of the walls, displacement, strain, strain rate and time to peak analysis.
Press release: VisualSonics VevoStrain Technology Provides Earlier Access To Left Ventricular Dysfunctions
Abstract in Circulation Research: Echocardiographic Speckle-Tracking Based Strain Imaging for Rapid Cardiovascular Phenotyping in Mice
Product page: VevoStrain Advanced Cardiac Analysis Software
Flashback: Vevo 770™ Micro-imaging System
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