TomTec Goes MRI

NEW ORLEANS - TomTec Imaging Systems, well known for its expertise in 3D and 4D echocardiography as well as for echo information management systems, extends its competence to MRI. TomTec announces a solution for left ventricular analysis in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) at the ACC 2007 (American College of Cardiology). Cardiac magnetic resonance is the gold standard technique for precise measurements of left ventricular volumes, function and mass. TomTec’s new application should ease qualitative and quantitative assessment of cMRI data.

The 4D LV-Analysis MR© application, based on TomTec´s successful 4D LV-Analysis© software for echocardiography, uses MRI data sets to give doctors a comprehensive functional analysis of the left ventricle. Results include volumes, ejection fraction and a quantification of dyssynchrony. It also offers innovative (patent pending) analysis options like 3D Parametric Imaging (3DPI). This simplifies assessing dyssynchrony and localizing areas with delayed myocardial contraction.

The current gold standard method for functional LV analysis uses the ‘short-axis slice summation’. The major difficulties of assessing mass and volumes with this method are in correctly including and excluding slices in the Mitral valve plane. To overcome these problems, TomTec’s upcoming MR-solution combines short- and long-axis slices for a 3D left ventricular analysis.

Like TomTec’s 4D LV-Analysis solution for ultrasound, the 4D LV-Analysis MR application should offer doctors more precise measurements, as well as recently established parameters for quantifying dyssynchrony. This includes dyssynchrony cut-off values, such as the Systolic Dyssynchrony Index (SDI), which has the potential to help doctors select patients who are more likely to respond to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). SDI may also help to identify patients who are currently not considered for it, but may also benefit.

Dr. Martin Hyca, TomTec’s Clinical Marketing Manager adds, “The Systolic Dyssynchrony Index that TomTec developed with leading cardiologists is the first clinically validated parameter to separate responders from non-responders before pacemaker implantation. While this method was restricted until now to 3D ultrasound data, doctors may apply it in future even for patients that are difficult to examine with ultrasound, by using MR imaging. This may help even more patients benefit from this method.”

TomTec’s cMRI application for 4D left ventricular analysis will be available from beginning of 2008.