Monday, September 29, 2008

TI drives new market of handheld ultrasound systems with industry's smallest, lowest-power analog front ends

DALLAS (Sept. 29, 2008) - Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today introduced two new integrated analog front ends (AFEs) for handheld ultrasound systems. The newest members of TI's AFE family for medical ultrasound, the industry-first 16-channel AFE5851 and the 8-channel AFE5801 bring breakthrough power efficiency and smaller footprint to support the new market for handheld ultrasound systems that can fit in a doctor's pocket (see www.ti.com/afe5801-pr).

New uses of electronic medical devices and emerging economies are driving the need for innovative, handheld ultrasound systems. Doctors in remote regions and medical technicians in first responder situations need a non-invasive tool for accurate, on-site diagnosis. By carrying a system at all times, doctors can also use ultrasound for new application areas, such as diagnosis of cardiac conditions.

source: Texas Instruments

Thursday, September 25, 2008

GE Healthcare Cardiac Ultrasound Service Boosts Customer Satisfaction Scores In Two Surveys

GE Healthcare's satisfaction scores reflect significant improvements in customer perceptions of service quality in both MD Buyline's 2nd quarter 2008 customer satisfaction survey and IMV ServiceTrak's 2008 report. MD Buyline and ServiceTrak present independent analysis of service trends in industry and manufacturer ratings within each modality.

"We think it's significant that two completely separate surveys show that GE Healthcare Cardiac Ultrasound Service has made positive changes," said Ann Marie Lubert, General Manager, GE Healthcare Ultrasound Services. "These achievements are consistent with the trend of our own customer satisfaction measurements. Latest scores reveal that 93 percent of our customers are not only satisfied, but also willing to recommend GE Healthcare Cardiac Ultrasound Service to a peer. Clearly, this is an indication that the programs and initiatives we've implemented over the last year to enhance our service offerings are working."

source: Medical News Today

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

A pilot study using Tissue Velocity Ultrasound Imaging (TVI) to assess muscle activity pattern in patients with chronic trapezius myalgia

Different research techniques indicate alterations in muscle tissue and in neuromuscular control of aching muscles in patients with chronic localized pain. Ultrasound can be used for analysis of muscle tissue dynamics in clinical practice.

Aim: This study introduces a new muscle tissue sensitive ultrasound technique in order to provide a new methodology for providing a description of local muscle changes. This method is applied to investigate trapezius muscle tissue response - especially with respect to specific regional deformation and deformation rates - during concentric shoulder elevation in patients with chronic trapezius myalgia and healthy controls before and after pain provocation.

Methods: Patients with trapezius myalgia and healthy controls were analyzed using an ultrasound system equipped with tissue velocity imaging (TVI).

complete article: 7th Space

Author: Michael Peolsson, Britt Larsson, Lars-Ake Brodin and Bjorn Gerdle
Credits/Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2008, 9:127

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The use of ultrasound in the fight against cancer

A revolutionary new ultrasonic treatment for liver and kidney cancer offers a surgery-free procedure for patients in the UK.

Ultrasound is high frequency sound beyond the range of human hearing and has been employed in a variety of ways in the medical field including, in diagnostics to look inside the body and observe a growing foetus, in physiotherapy as a tool to aid the rejuvenation of muscles and pain control, and now, in the treatment of tumours.

Through research by Professor Tim Mason, Head of Sonochemistry at Coventry University alongside Chinese researchers at the Chongqing Medical University made possible by trials at Churchill hospital in Oxford the procedures are now a reality. The new discovery proves that a type of focused ultrasound can now be used to treat specific tumours.

source: Coventry University

Sunday, September 21, 2008

A Breakthrough In Contrast-Enhanced Intraoperative Ultrasonography

The present brief clinical report showed that Contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography (CE-IOUS) using a new microbubble agent, Sonazoid, can allow surgeons to investigate the whole liver with enough time and to find new metastases intraoperatively.

Contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography (CE-IOUS) seems more sensitive than conventional IOUS to identify new occult lesions during hepatectomy in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM). However, conventional contrast mediums cannot provide enough time for repeat whole liver intraoperative scan, and further improvement of microbubble agent for CE-IOUS had been sought.

source: Medical News Today

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Philips Ranks No. 1 In Overall Service Performance In Ultrasound All Systems 2008 IMV Servicetrak™ Reports

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) announced that customers have again rated Philips Healthcare No. 1 in overall service performance for Ultrasound All Systems, comprising Radiology/OB-Gyn and Cardiology instruments, in the annual IMV ServiceTrak™ surveys.

The results of the 2008 IMV analysis also show Philips earning a No. 1 ranking in overall manufacturer satisfaction and a No. 1 ranking for probability of repurchase for ultrasound.

source: Medical News Today

Thursday, September 11, 2008

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer Following External Beam Radiation Therapy Investigated in Phase III Clinical S

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 11 /CNW/ -- In a new study, men with locally
recurrent prostate cancer may be able to receive a promising investigational
ultrasound treatment option.

A Phase III clinical trial at Specialists in Urology, located in North
Naples, FL, is investigating the safety and efficacy of High Intensity Focused
Ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of locally recurrent prostate
cancer following failed external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).
HIFU is a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasound energy to destroy cancerous tissue with focused sound waves.

The lead investigator of this trial site is Dr. Nicholas Franco. This is
one of several trial sites in the nation approved by the Food and Drug
Administration to participate in the trial, which will begin enrolling
patients in September.

source: CNW Group

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Tiny 3-D Ultrasound Guides Catheter

An ultrasound probe small enough to ride along at the tip of a catheter can provide physicians with clearer real-time images of soft tissue without the risks associated with conventional x-ray catheter guidance.

Duke University biomedical engineers designed and fabricated the novel ultrasound probe which is powerful enough to provide detailed, 3-D images. The new device works like an insect's compound eye, blending images from 108 miniature transducers working together.

Catheter-based procedures involve snaking instruments through blood vessels to perform various tasks, such as clearing arteries or placing stents, usually with the guidance of x-ray images.

source: Duke University

Friday, September 5, 2008

MEDISON Introduces the “SonoAce X6”, the most powerful combination of performance and design

MEDISON Co., Ltd., the world renowned diagnostic ultrasound systems corporation, has announced the new SonoAce X6 model which is now commercially available.

MEDISON’s SonoAce X6 is an impressive new compact ultrasound system providing maximum value and quality across a wide range of applications. The slender ergonomic design is built upon innovative software-based technology in combination with a variety of advanced imaging functions to meet the acceptance of the most sophisticated of ultrasound users.

SonoAce X6 boasts sensitive spectral, color and power Doppler facilitating confident hemodynamic diagnoses of vascular anatomy and pathology. In addition to exceptional Doppler sensitivity, X6 also incorporates an extensive list of image processing innovations, including SRFTM(Speckle Reduction Filter), Full Spectrum ImagingTM, and Pulse Inversion Harmonic Imaging.

source: Medison

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Philips showcases new portable ultrasound to speed urgent and on the spot diagnosis of cardiac patients at the ESC Congress 2008

Munich, Germany – At the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2008, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) today showcased the CX50 CompactXtreme, a recently developed handheld ultrasound system. On show in Europe for the first time, it is able to deliver the image quality expected of a traditional, full-size system in even the most technically challenging investigations. Designed to deliver high-quality images at the bedside, the CX50 provides clinicians with the information they need to give an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s problem.

“This product has been developed in direct response to what clinicians have told us they need: a user-friendly, compact system for urgent, on the spot investigations. Very sick patients are often difficult to move – those on the critical and intensive care units may be attached to multiple tubes leading to ventilators, infusions, monitors and drug administration pumps.

source: Philips