Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Dynamic Sonography Accurate In Diagnosing Muscle Tears

Dynamic sonography is useful in the diagnosis, management and follow-up of muscle tears and hematomas, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from Khoula Hospital in Muscat, Oman.

The study consisted of 50 male soccer players ranging from 20-30 years of age with muscular trauma in the thigh and calf. Dynamic sonography of both the affected and contralateral normal part was performed. "Ultrasound is a rapid and radiation free imaging modality available in all sports medicine emergency rooms. It is a very important tool to diagnose, follow-up and document muscle tears for proper management," said Ashok Kumar Nath, MD, lead author of the study.

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Monday, May 28, 2007

Medicare To Expand Coverage Of Ultrasound Diagnostic Procedures, USA

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today a decision to provide coverage for Doppler monitoring of cardiac output in certain settings. CMS has determined that the current evidence is adequate to revise its longstanding Ultrasound Diagnostic Procedures National Coverage Determination and remove the past noncoverage of this diagnostic test in these settings.

"Today's decision reflects CMS' commitment to using evidence-based approaches to provide Medicare beneficiaries with reasonable and necessary medical technologies as they evolve through innovation in the marketplace," said CMS Acting Administer Leslie V. Norwalk, Esq. "As we developed this decision, we used the best available medical evidence-in the form of randomized controlled clinical trials-to re-evaluate our position on this important non-invasive method of caring for patients in intensive care situations."


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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Christian Science Monitor Examines Legislative Efforts To Provide Ultrasounds To Women Seeking Abortions

Ultrasounds have become one of the "latest weapons" in the "battle" between abortion-rights opponents and advocates, the Christian Science Monitor reports. According to the Monitor, six states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan and Mississippi -- have passed legislation requiring that ultrasounds be offered to women seeking abortions, and four states -- Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin -- require physicians to notify women seeking abortions about the availability of ultrasounds. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 22 bills relating to ultrasounds were introduced in 15 states this year.

Abortion-rights opponents say ultrasounds are a "medical imperative" for women seeking abortions and they allow women access to all available information before deciding whether to undergo the procedure, according to the Monitor. However, abortion-rights supporters say that ultrasounds are not medically necessary and that laws requiring ultrasounds for women seeking abortions or requiring physicians to offer them are "constitutionally suspect" and a form of "emotional blackmail," the Monitor reports.

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Monday, May 7, 2007

New Ultrasound Fingerprint Identification System Suggested

Diagnostic 3D ultrasound of fingers could be used for biometric identification based on matching paired images using internal fingerprint structures that would be difficult to fake, offering the possibility of a unique automated fingerprint identification system, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

For the study, 3D images were collected of the fingers of 20 volunteers. A group of four readers, including two musculoskeletal radiologists, then attempted to match the pairs based on anatomic and physiological features of the human finger. Radiologists matching the image pairs were 100% successful, and the average success of all four readers was 96%.

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Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Analyst Puts Hand-Carried Ultrasound Market at $1 Billion by 2011

The hand-carried ultrasound market will top $1 billion by 2011, according to a report by ultrasound industry analyst and consultant Harvey G. Klein, PhD, president of Klein Biomedical Consultants Inc, New York City. The report, The Hand-Carried Ultrasound ("HCU") Market: A Disruptive Technology?, also names three projected market leaders by 2009—GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis; SonoSite Inc, Bothell, Wash; and ZONARE Medical Systems Inc, Mountain View, Calif. Medical Imaging spoke with Klein about some of the finer points of his report, which can be purchased for $10,500.

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