Anatomic M Mode for Echocardiography
©Walter Rasmussen, R.D.C.S.
Some of the current ultrasound machines have Anatomic M Mode available, an innovation that makes it possible to place the M-Mode cursor perpendicular to the structure regardless of the transducer position. Some machines also allow the use of Anatomic M-Mode at a later time from any saved two-dimensional image.
The Anatomic M-Mode function can be found on the system’s software menu, usually labeled, “AMM”. Upon activating Anatomic M-Mode, a dual function cursor is displayed. One function is cursor position; the other function is cursor angle. An alternate operation is a Zoom function for magnifying the M-Mode image.
Anatomic M-Mode produces an image which is of lower resolution and softer focus than standard M-Mode. There are times however, when Anatomic M-Mode is useful for producing a brighter image which emphasizes the borders of the walls of the left and right ventricles better than standard M-Mode. Anatomic M-Mode is therefore another imaging tool that the sonographer can use to create an echocardiographic study that is of higher diagnostic value.