VisualSonics’ Advanced Cardiovascular Package provides features and functions that further enhance the already powerful toolkit available to the preclinical cardiovascular researcher. Key highlights of the new features for use on the Vevo; high-resolution micro imaging system include:
Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI):
Tissue Doppler Imaging or "TDI" is available on the Vevo for assessing the health of the myocardium wall of the LV at the mitral annulus. TDI can also be used for regional myocardial strain rate analysis. TDI uses Pulsed-Wave Doppler to detect and display moving tissue or muscle in the small animal as a Doppler spectrum.
Image > An apical four chamber view showing velocity of wall motion of the septum at the mitral annulus of an adult mouse. Tissue velocity can de quantified from the Doppler spectrum.
Integrated Blood Pressure with Pressure-Volume Analysis:
Blood pressure signals — including blood pressure traces — are easily integrated from a third party blood pressure monitoring system, such as a Millar catheter, into the Vevo software in real-time. By integrating the blood pressure signal — and associating it with the real-time in vivo imaging of the Vevo system, users can perform pressure-volume analysis and vascular strain analysis. For the first time, the two modalities can now be integrated for more detailed, complete physiological analysis and calculations.
Image > An acquired M-Mode image of adult mouse with blood pressure monitor. A pressure-diameter loop is illustrated.
Anatomical M-Mode:
Anatomic M-Mode is available on the Vevo allowing the user to steer their M-Mode sample volume to acquire the M-Mode spectrum in the anatomically correct plane. Left ventricular measurements can then be performed along that plane.
Image > Anatomical M-Mode of adult mouse allowing anatomically correct measurement. Image was acquired at 142 frames per second.
Automated LV Functional Analysis:
VisualSonics understands that not only does the cardiovascular researcher require exquisite resolution, but they also require rapid analysis and easy workflow. With Automated LV Functional Analysis, the Vevo software provides semi-automated continuous tracing of the chamber walls in the left ventricle in B-Mode or M-Mode. In addition, the Vevo software automatically generates standard left ventricular measurements and calculations derived from the traced contours and the collected physiological data.
This application is available for post-image processing (ie. as a compliment to the Vevo Offline Software Site Analysis).
Image > Semi-automated tracing of the chamber walls of the left ventricle in B-Mode. Long axis view is illustrated.
Image > M-Mode is illustrated of semi-automated LV tracing.
Image > Short axis view illustrating semi-automated LV tracing.
Advanced Cardiovascular Measurements Package:
Many enhancements have been added to the Vevo Measurement and Calculations package to ensure that it is complete, flexible, easy-to-use, and addresses the multiple and different needs of the small animal cardiovascular researcher. Key enhancements include:
> Measurements and Calculations now integrate physiological data with image data, including myocardial and vascular strain and strain rate analysis. In addition, physiological data are saved and exported along with the measurements providing a complete imaging and physiological record of the imaging session;
> Improved analysis workflow for performing standard cardiovascular measurements and calculations;
> Open reporting tools to export multiple studies into a single report file for further analysis and presentation.
As with the other existing Vevo modes, measurements and calculations generated using these newly available modes are easily saved and exported to a simple database or spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, for further analysis.
Please Note:
> The "Advanced Cardiovascular Functionality" is available for use on the Vevo imaging platform.
> Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) requires that the user has purchased the standard PW Doppler option.
> Anatomical M-Mode requires that the user has purchased the standard M-Mode option.
> Automated LV Functional Analysis requires that the user has purchased the Vevo Offline Software Site License.
Image > Right Coronary Artery in Adult Mouse. Image by VisualSonics, 2004.
