Physics and Technical Principles of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

The backbone of the three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) technology is the transducer. Understanding the physics of 3DE and the way the matrix transducer works is pivotal for successful acquisition of good quality 3DE data sets. Different 3DE acquisition modalities are available (real-time/live, multi-beat, zoom, full-volume, color) to adapt to the different clinical needs. Once acquired, 3DE data sets should be postprocessed by cropping, rotating and slicing them in order to obtain the images that are needed to meet the clinical or research needs. Different ways of displaying the data sets are also available: volume rendering (to show anatomy), wireframe or solid surface rendering (for quantitative analysis) and multislice (for analysis of regional function and anatomy and 2D quantitative analysis). Moreover, new display modalities (such as stereoscopic vision, 3D printing and holography) are entering the clinical arena to provide an actual 3D appreciation and manipulation of images.