According to BioMed Central, Dutch doctors are using a virtual reality system to visualize the heart in three dimensions and detect if it is healthy or not. In a pilot study, ten doctors were able to move around virtual three-dimensional animated images or 'holograms' of the heart and to make correct diagnosis after a ten-minute training. However, the applicability of this technology in clinical practice is still limited largely because it is available in only a few research centers around the world. So don't expect your local doctor to perform a real time 3D echocardiography before a while. In the mean time, here is a link to some pictures of this virtual reality environment as well as to additional details and references.
Sources: BioMed Central news release, via EurekAlert!, December 22, 2005; and various web sites
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