Medical Equipments Reviews

Philips today announced the microTEE, the world’s smallest ultrasonic probe for the so-called draft transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), a special procedure for cardiac imaging in neonates.

From now on risky procedures can be performed on the heart of a baby having a better visual inspection, since an intervention can now be monitored throughout the whole course using ultrasound imaging. With their only 7.5 millimeters in diameter is microTEE only about one third as large as previous pediatric TEE probes. Especially the smallest and most vulnerable patients will benefit from this great technological progress. The thin, flexible tube is inserted into the esophagus and positioned accurately by the examining physician. Its proximity to the heart of the upper digestive tract makes it the ideal starting point for the cardiac ultrasound. From there, the presentation of cardiac structures and the large proximal cardiac vessels is largely trouble free. Thus arise during a surgical high-resolution images of the heart, without affecting the air in the lungs or ribs imaging. The new multiplane probe possible by the almost three-dimensional perspective, and by the extremely good imaging a more accurate diagnosis. The intervention, such as how to troubleshoot a complex heart defect, can therefore be made secure planning and faster. Another advantage is that the success of individual surgical steps can be carried out during the procedure, so that it can be assumed that will reduce the number of corrective re-operations.

“The microTEE probe represents a major step forward in our capabilities for intra-cardiac imaging in infants and young children,” said Karlheinz Meier, Business Unit Manager, Philips Healthcare ROOF. “The miniature probe has proved to be highly risky for our pediatric surgeons in the already considered invaluable. Finally, our smallest patients can also use this gentle intraoperative imaging will be monitored.”

Previously was a radiation-free ultrasound imaging in young infants during critical cardiac catheterization or surgery is not possible – the draft probes were too large, so they for the cardiac imaging of the child’s esophagus does not have could be used. For this reason, high-risk procedures were routinely performed in these tiny patients of cardiologists and surgeons without the supporting TEE images.

Of course, the miniature wonders can also lead to diagnosis and treatment monitoring are used in adult patients who have probes such as problems swallowing conventional TEE.

Tags: children, images, monitor, probe, sensors, Ultrasonic, ultrasonic sensor