Initial results support the use of TEECAD to eliminate blind transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) intubations and improve physician workflow
Feb 13, 2025 – Minneapolis, MN - Visura Technologies, Inc., a privately-held medical device company dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art visualization solutions to improve the safety and success of TEE probe intubations, announced today the initial release of case-level data collected from over 50 physicians across 15 US sites using TEECAD to assist TEE probe placement. The findings demonstrate that the TEECAD system was able to successfully visualize and navigate the esophageal inlet in the vast majority of cases of TEE intubation.
The use of 3D TEE represents a significant advance in ultrasound imaging guidance and is the mainstay of imaging in catheter-based structural heart interventions given its ability to deliver high-quality and real-time images without the need for additional x-ray exposure.[1],[2] TEE probe placement failure associated with difficult probe placement has been reported to range from 0.18% to 1.9% including catastrophic complications of pharyngeal and esophageal perforation.[3],[4] The TEECAD system travels with the probe to provide a real-time, dynamic image of the oropharyngeal and esophageal anatomy to support safe and efficient TEE probe placement.
For the product registry data, procedural and user data was collected during and after the TEECAD procedure by Visura clinical staff in conjunction with the cardiologists’ input using a standardized questionnaire. The results of the data show that 96.3% of users were able to clearly see the esophageal inlet using TEECAD which is an improvement in visualization compared to other techniques and systems that are used to visualize the esophagus during TEE intubation. In addition, in nearly all cases, physicians found TEECAD to be beneficial for probe placement as it provided the confidence needed to advance the probe into the esophagus in cases with complex anatomies and difficult intubations. Read the full white paper and findings here.
TEECAD is the world’s first disposable camera designed specifically for real-time visualization during TEE intubation. Compatible with leading US TEE probe systems, it connects seamlessly to the probe to provide physicians with images of the esophagus and surrounding structures during intubation for more efficient and effective probe placement.
Chad Olinger D.O, Cardiologist at Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute in Minneapolis, MN stated, “The use of TEECAD at our institution has improved workflow for TEE procedures. With TEECAD available, challenging cases can now be performed without additional staff or hospital resources. Finally, cardiologists have a tool at our disposal to assist with TEE probe intubation. TEECAD is an essential part of the TEE toolkit. ”
Visura will be exhibiting at the American Society of Echocardiography State-of-the-Art (ASE-SOTA) Conference this week in Scottsdale, AZ to discuss the TEECAD system and the initial findings of the registry data. Visit the Visura team at ASE-SOTA to learn more.
About Visura Technologies
Visura is a privately held medical device company dedicated to delivering state-of-art visualization solutions to improve the safety and success of TEE probe intubation. Visura’s TEECAD System is the world’s first disposable camera designed specifically for real-time visualization during TEE intubation. Use of TEECAD supports first-pass intubation success and has the potential to reduce costly TEE-related complications. There are over 1.7M TEE procedures performed annually in the U.S. with TEE procedures growing at an annual rate of 10%.[5]
Media Contact:
Jodi Lamberti
VP, Clinical and Commercial Development
[1] Silvestry FE, Kerber RE, Brook MM, Carroll JD, Eberman KM, Goldstein SA, Herrmann HC, Homma S, Mehran R, Packer DL, Parisi AF, Pulerwitz T, Seward JB, Tsang TS, Wood MA. Echocardiography-guided interventions. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2009 Mar;22(3):213-31.
[2] Simpson J, Lopez L, Acar P, Friedberg M, Khoo N, Ko H, Marek J, Marx G, McGhie J, Meijboom F, Roberson D, Van den Bosch A, Miller O, Shirali G. Three-dimensional echocardiography in congenital heart disease: an expert consensus document from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2016 Oct;17(10):1071-97.
[3] Hilberath JN, Oakes DA, Shernan SK, Bulwer BE, D'Ambra MN, Eltzschig HK. Safety of transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2010 Nov;23(11):1115-27.
[4] Kallmeyer IJ, Collard CD, Fox JA, Body SC, Shernan SK. The safety of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography: a case series of 7200 cardiac surgical patients. Anesth Analg. 2001 May;92(5):1126-30.
[5] Data on File
Comments