Article Summary: There is a machine, called the transesophageal multiplanar ultrasound probe, that can take images of the heart’s function. In the study described in this paper, all 53 subjects that underwent this imaging saw good images with no major problems doing surgery. The imaging was also very fast, taking only about three to seven minutes, and was effective when used on subjects between one and seventy years old. The probe is especially useful in abnormal health and surgery situations; this is most evident in cases with young children, since the smaller probe is easier to use with smaller hearts. It is also more accurate, easier to use, and more cost-effective than its competitors.
Reaction: This article is likely the first of many that shows how effective new technology can really be in the medical field. I think the biggest takeaway is the how: how is the new so much better than the old? It really comes down to the expansion of application. Once this kind of technology is invented, doctors and surgeons don’t have to do so much on their own, especially in difficult cases. Things like this imaging allow doctors to work more efficiently and focus on other more human-centric tasks. In my paper, I would talk about how technology makes techniques more universal.