Vida Systems has announced the launch of its first product, VidaEcho, a software platform designed to teach the mechanics of echocardiography, before a practitioner ever encounters a live patient.
“The field of structural heart intervention is growing rapidly, creating the need for advanced training options,” said Russell Ivanhoe, company founder. “We look forward to bringing an array of interactive browser-based training tools to help providers learn the latest techniques in an interactive environment that will ultimately allow them to provide better care to the patient.”
The VidaEcho system features a simulated 3D anatomy of the heart, and the corresponding echo image. By moving a virtual echo probe handle with a mouse, users learn how the device will interact with the cardiac anatomy. The application features an intuitive user interface and highly realistic depictions of the heart’s anatomy and ultrasound, with both transesophageal (TEE) and transthoracic (TTE) modes available. The system offers preset views but can also be customised. Features also include the ability to overlay the echo image onto the 3D anatomy, so that the physicians can internalise the translation of 3D anatomy to 2D images, a common hurdle for mastering echocardiography learning.
“There have been tremendous developments in the field of echocardiography in the last 30 years. Echo now plays a central role in the diagnosis and management of many cardiovascular conditions. Training new users in echocardiography is more important than ever and has become very complex,” said Randy Martin, professor emeritus at Emory University, director of Valvular and Structural Heart Disease at Piedmont Heart Institute. “VidaEcho can fill this gap by enabling users to learn virtually through simulating tremendous complexity with flexible learning tools.”
VidaEcho is cloud-based, which allows health care providers to train anytime from anywhere. The software is designed to engage, challenge, coach and reward users – all while teaching complex human anatomy, physiology, pathology and medical procedures.
