COLOR KINESIS - PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION AND TECHNICAL GUIDELINES

Color kinesis is a new echocardiographic technique that aids in the as sessment of global and regional left ventricular performance during ei ther systole or diastole. Color kinesis uses automated border detectio n technology based on backscatter data to display both the magnitude a nd timing of endocardial motion in real time. The color kinesis displa y superimposes a color overlay on the true-dimensional echocardiograph ic image; the number of color pixels represents the magnitude of endoc ardial motion, while the different colors represent the timing of endo cardial motion according to a predefined color scheme. Because color k inesis is an operator-dependent technique, the steps involved in perfo rming a technically adequate study will be reviewed as well as the pit falls and technical limitations. The potential clinical applications o f color kinesis will also be discussed. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 15, January 1998).