Virtual heart model as an orientation tool in three-dimensional echocardiography: a feasibility study

Recently, virtual reality (VR) has been integrated with cardiac three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound. A VR heart model linked to a volumetric data set can provide the observer spatial information in difficult cardiac conditions when integrated in 3-D reconstruction software. To link the VR model to the volumetric data set, the observer must identify 3 out of 6 defined landmarks within the volumetric data set. The landmarks are: 1) center aortic valve, 2) center mitral valve, 3) anterior mitral valve leaflet, 4) posterior mitral valve leaflet, 5) center tricuspid valve and 6) the apex of the left ventricle. The VR heart model was randomly retrospectively tested in a group of 61 patients. In 70.3% of these cases the model could successfully be used as an orientation tool. A VR heart model was successfully implemented in 3-D reconstruction software and can be used as an orientation tool and for teaching purposes.