The Helena Cardiology Clinic of Helena, Mont. has installed two Toshiba Aplio Artida ultrasound systems with 3D wall-motion tracking capabilities to more quickly and accurately identify wall-motion defects and the timing of cardiac events.

Using Artida's real-time, multi-planar reformatting capabilities, physicians can assess global and regional left ventricular (LV) function, including volumetric LV ejection fraction. Arbitrary views of the heart, not available in 2D imaging, are also obtained to help with surgical planning. The tracking capabilities allow the user to obtain angle-independent, global and regional information about myocardial contraction, the company said.