Hands-free continuous transthoracic echocardiography and transcranial Doppler using a 3D-printed transducer holder connected to a hydraulic arm

A transducer holder to perform continuous echocardiography has been recently described and the device has a major potential for use in anesthesiology.¹,² To improve daily practice, we developed a hydraulic arm coupled to a 3D-printed device capable of holding any commercially available ultrasound transducer (Fig. 1). Thus, the device enables the continuous assessment of cardiac output during surgery³ (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the arm has successfully allowed effective continuous transcranial Doppler monitoring (Fig. 3).

Figure 1
Technical project for 3D printing of the device that connects the hydraulic arm to the ultrasound transducer.

Figure 2
Use of the device to capture echocardiography imaging from the apical 5-chamber window and the alignment of the Doppler to measure flow through the left ventricular outflow tract.

Figure 3
Use of the device for transcranial Doppler through the temporal window with pulsed Doppler of the middle cerebral artery.

References

• ¹
  Song H, Tsai SK, Liu J. Tailored holder for continuous echocardiographic monitoring. Anesth Analg. 2018;126:435-7.
• ²
  Alrayashi W, Kelleher S, DiNardo J, et al. Hands-free continuous transthoracic echocardiography: a contemporary evolution of the precordial stethoscope. Paediatr Anaesth. 2021;31:616-8.
• ³
  Souza RS e, de Melo WB, Freire CMV, et al. Comparative study between suprasternal and apical windows: a user-friendly cardiac output measurement for the anesthesiologist. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2021.02.063. Online ahead of print.
  » https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjane.2021.02.063.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  20 Mar 2023
• Date of issue
  Mar-Apr 2023

History

• Received
  26 Oct 2022
• Accepted
  18 Nov 2022