Monday, April 27, 2009

BK Medical To Introduce Flex Focus Mobile Ultrasound Scanner At American Urological Association Annual Meeting In Chicago

BK Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ:ALOG), announced the American-market premiere of the Flex Focus ultrasound scanner at the American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting, April 25-30, in Chicago, Illinois. Flex Focus is the latest in the Focus-family series of ultrasound scanners.

The new Flex Focus scanner is a modern, sleek ultrasound system, whose groundbreaking design compliments its exemplary functionality. The Flex Focus features a 19" LCD high-definition monitor that houses the actual scanning unit, making the Flex Focus the mobile solution for sophisticated ultrasound needs. The Flex Focus can be easily docked in several different configurations and its 14 inch (35cm) width means it physically fits into virtually all clinical settings, even smaller, private practice offices. The Flex Focus 19" LCD monitor is positioned vertically on the scanning unit, making it possible to view two large biplane images simultaneously without compromising ultrasound image size.

source: Medical News Today

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Ultrasound Imaging Now Possible With A Smartphone - Imaging Device Fits In The Palm Of A Hand

Computer engineers at Washington University in St. Louis are bringing the minimalist approach to medical care and computing by coupling USB-based ultrasound probe technology with a smartphone, enabling a compact, mobile computational platform and a medical imaging device that fits in the palm of a hand.

William D. Richard, Ph.D., WUSTL associate professor of computer science and engineering, and David Zar, research associate in computer science and engineering, have made commercial USB ultrasound probes compatible with Microsoft Windows mobile-based smartphones, thanks to a $100,000 grant Microsoft awarded the two in 2008. In order to make commercial USB ultrasound probes work with smartphones, the researchers had to optimize every aspect of probe design and operation, from power consumption and data transfer rate to image formation algorithms. As a result, it is now possible to build smartphone-compatible USB ultrasound probes for imaging the kidney, liver, bladder and eyes, endocavity probes for prostate and uterine screenings and biopsies, and vascular probes for imaging veins and arteries for starting IVs and central lines. Both medicine and global computer use will never be the same.

source: Medical News Today

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Limited Access To Ultrasound Thwarts Efforts To Help Prevent Pediatric Stroke

The number of children with a certain blood disorder undergoing an ultrasound to help prevent stroke is up significantly in the past 10 years since the publication of a major study showing its benefits. However, limited access to labs that perform this type of screening appears to be a barrier to helping these children who are at a high risk of stroke. The research is published in the April 14, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers followed 157 children with sickle cell disease in northern California for an average of 8.5 years. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong blood disorder that increases a child's risk of stroke. Roughly one out of 10 children with the disease suffers a stroke by age 20.

source: Medical News`Today

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Siemens Automates Ultrasound Applications to Achieve Improved Diagnostic Confidence and Reduce User Dependency

ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system is a platform for workflow automation in image fusion, breast volume scanning, and application procedures and protocols

New York N.Y., April 1, 2009 – Siemens Healthcare (www.siemens.com/healthcare) demonstrates the benefits of workflow automation on the new release of its premier general imaging platform, the ACUSON S2000™ ultrasound system, at the annual conference of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), April 2-5, in New York City at booth # 413. These solutions comprise a palette of exam procedures and protocols which address the challenges that handheld ultrasound faces in regards to user-dependence and variability, as well as scan-related injuries. Siemens will also highlight how automation can support the viability of fusing ultrasound and computed tomography imaging in the clinical routine.

Offering the best of both worlds, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound fusion combines the benefits of real-time ultrasound imaging with global imaging display of CT. However, current fusion techniques require bulky transmit and receive equipment to track the patient’s anatomy in real time. Also, patients need to lie completely still during the entire exam to prevent elaborate manual realignments before the examination can continue.

source: Siemens Medical

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

ContextVision AB: ContextVision Unveils First Real-time Volumetric Ultrasound Image Enhancement Tool

At the 2009 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention today, ContextVision (OSE:COV), the software imaging partner for the most recognized medical imaging manufacturers worldwide, introduces GOPiCE® US, the first real-time volumetric filtering software for ultrasound. The image enhancement product filters the three-dimensional ultrasound volumes, removing speckle and other artifacts, while simultaneously extends the clinician’s vision to planes previously hidden.

GOPiCE offers clinicians the ability to see areas never seen before, such as the regions of the fetal brain previously hidden by speckle and noise in two-dimensional and unenhanced three-dimensional ultrasound images. The unprecedented visualization achieved using GOPiCE will ultimately lead to improved diagnostic value. Additionally, GOPiCE minimizes processing time: it leverages the speed of graphics processing units (GPUs), processing up to 24 volumes per second at 128x128x128 pixels or 40 volumes in single planar reconstruction mode.

source: Business Wire