Click here to open the TEE Simulation application.
(Works best with Internet Explorer, Safari or FireFox. Does NOT work with Chrome.)

Introduction

Welcome to the TEE Simulator. This module simulates the actions you can take to adjust the position of the TEE probe and the ultrasound plane, and shows you the resulting position of the ultrasound plane in relation to a 3D model of the heart. The actions you can perform are:

• probe advancement and withdrawal
• turning the probe
• adjusting the omniplane angle
• adjusting the sector depth
• flexing the probe tip

The TEE simulation application aims to imitate TEE probe manipulation required to produce real-time TEE imaging of a static heart. In the "manipulate the TEE probe" pane the user can drag the probe handle up or down to advance or withdraw the probe and rotate the probe right and left. Sliders can be manipulated to adjust the omniplane angle, flex the probe tip and change the sector depth.

The results of any changes in probe manipulation are shown as a real-time computer generated TEE image in the "TEE view". Structures displayed in the TEE image can be identified by moving the mouse pointer over the structure. Each of the 20 recommended TEE views can be selected and displayed from the "Select a view" option within this pane. The "3D Heart Model" pane has a freely rotatable static 3D heart model with TEE sector plane. This feature helps the user correlate TEE probe manipulation with the exterior surface of the heart.

The exterior surface can be removed to show casts (luminal structures) of various cardiac structures. These structures can be selected to become highlighted on the 3D heart model. By highlighting a structure the TEE imaging plane can then be manipulated to appear in the TEE view. Finally a metrics feature can track the probe manipulation.

Open the TEE Simulation Application in a new window.

Contributors

• Dr. Annette Vegas
  Staff anesthesiologist
  Toronto General Hospital
  Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management
  
• Michael Corrin
  Programming & Design
  Toronto General Hospital
  Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management