Echocardiography

Cardiac ultrasound uses reflected sound waves (echos) to create images of anatomy inside the body. Echocardiograms are the primary cardiac imaging modality used to assess the heart and diagnose or track cardiac issues. Echo is the gold standard imaging modality to assess the heart, particularly with calculating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is a measure of cardiac output. In addition to noninvasive standard transthoracic echo (TTE), invasive transesophgeal echo (TEE) is also used when clearer, more detailed imaging of the heart is needed. Both 3D and 4D echo echo systems are rapidly gaining wider adoption and enable new types of assessments, especially in the structural heart space and in transcatheter procedural guidance. Find news on general ultrasound imaging.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted UltraSight an expansion of its Echo Stewardship Platform compatibility with additional ultrasound system types. This enables deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) guidance for focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) across an entire healthcare system without the need to buy new ultrasound systems. The move enables health systems to expand use of the AI on compatible equipment they already own, including handheld, laptop and cart-based systems.

FDA clears expanded use of AI that helps novice users perform echo exams

This update helps health systems get more value out of UltraSight's advanced AI technology—all without buying brand new ultrasound equipment.

Video interview with ASE President David Weiner explains goals of society in 2026. #ASE

ASE president outlines need to lead on AI, sustain echo workforce

ASE President David Wiener, MD, discussed his goals for 2026 in a new video interview. "The imager who doesn't use artificial intelligence will be replaced by the imager who does,” he said.

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Healthcare advocacy in 2025: American Society of Echocardiography reviews a busy year

Healthcare policies have rapidly evolved in recent years, and 2025 was no exception. From payment policies to physician shortages, ASE and other medical societies had plenty to fight for throughout the year.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) President David H. Wiener, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASE, director of clinical operations at the Jefferson Heart Institute, and a clinical professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, explains the growing number of multimodality cardiac imaging experts and how imaging societies need to change to meet their needs.

Societies must adapt to the rise of multimodality cardiac imaging

ASE President David Wiener detailed some of the many ways imaging societies need to adapt now that so many imagers are specializing in multiple modalities. It may be time to change how annual conferences are scheduled, for example, so that the costs of travel are easier to manage.

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Women are more likely to have severe aortic stenosis missed on echocardiography results

Three out of four TTEs are being ordered by clinicians who are not cardiologists. Could this be having a negative impact on patient care?

Siemens Healthineers and Boston Scientific partner on next-generation intracardiac echo for LAAO

The agreement also will make Boston Scientific the exclusive distributor for the new ICE catheter optimized for left atrial appendage occlusion workflows.

Dr. Nee Khoo, director of the echocardiography lab, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton, Canada, explains the rapidly growing adoption of pediatric 3D transesophageal echo (TEE) to not only preplan, but also guide and assess the results of congenital heart surgeries.

The push to get 3D echo into the congenital operating room

Nee Khoo, MBChB, director of the echocardiography lab at Canada's Stollery Children’s Hospital, explains the rapid adoption of pediatric 3D transesophageal echo.

ASE leading push to revise CPT code for interventional echocardiography

The pressure is on for ASE and other societies to create a new CPT code for the use of interventional echocardiography during structural heart procedures.