SonoSite Expands M-Turbo Product Line With New M-OB/GYN Office Ultrasound Tool

BOTHELL, WA - February 22, 2008 - SonoSite, Inc., (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader in point-of-care, hand-carried ultrasound, announced today the new M-OB/GYN Office™ ultrasound tool specifically customized for the physician’s office. The company plans to begin customer shipments this month.

Based on SonoSite’s fourth generation M-Turbo™ platform, the M-OB/GYN Office system delivers an exponential increase in processing power and superior image clarity for obstetrical and gynecological imaging, plus seamless connectivity for digital image export in a rugged, easy to use form factor. It is backed by SonoSite’s 5-year warranty, which comes standard with purchase.

read more at SonoSite

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided therapy safe for severe gastrointestinal bleeding patients

A new Mayo Clinic study found that endoscopic ultrasound-guided therapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding for whom conventional therapies have failed.

The study was published in this month's issue of American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by a variety of conditions, most commonly peptic ulcer disease, esophagogastric varices, arteriovenous malformations, Mallory-Weiss tears, tumors, erosions, and Dieulafoy's lesion. Rare lesions such as pseudoaneurysms that often result from pancreatic disease can also lead to life-threatening bleeding. Standard endoscopic therapies, radiologically-guided inte

source: News-Medical.net

SonoSite Brings S Revolution To Musculoskeletal Imaging

BOTHELL, WA - February 22, 2008 - SonoSite, Inc., (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader in point-of-care, hand-carried ultrasound, announced today the introduction of the S-MSK™ ultrasound tool, the first ultrasound product customized for musculoskeletal specialists - including rheumatologists, physiatrists, sports physicians, orthopedic and osteopathic surgeons and physical therapists. The company plans to begin customer shipments in March.

Based on SonoSite’s fourth generation M-Turbo™ platform, the S-MSK ultrasound tool delivers an exponential increase in processing power for superior image clarity plus seamless connectivity for digital image export in a rugged, easy to use form factor. It is backed by SonoSite’s ground-breaking 5-year warranty, which comes standard with purchase.

source: SonoSite

Ultrasound Nails Location of Elusive G Spot

Linda Geddes

For women, it is supposed to trigger one of the most intense orgasms imaginable, with waves of pleasure spreading out across the whole body. If the "G spot orgasm" seems semi-mythical, however, that's because there has been scant evidence of its existence. Now for the first time gynaecological scans have revealed clear anatomical differences between women who claim to experience vaginal orgasms involving a G spot and those who don't. It might mean that there is a G spot, after all. What's more, a simple test could tell you if it's time to give up the hunt, or if your partner just needs to try harder.
“A simple test could tell you if it is time to give up the hunt for your G spot or if your partner just needs to try harder”

"For the first time it is possible to determine by a simple, rapid and inexpensive method if a woman has a G spot or not," says Emmanuele Jannini at the University of L'Aquila in Italy, who carried out the research.

complete article at
New Scientist

Can any mother really trust her baby scans? (UK)

RACHEL ELLIS

As trained radiographers, Cora and Mark Regan knew the benefits of having ultrasound scans to check the health of a baby in the womb.

So when Cora became pregnant with their first child, she had the two recommended scans at around 12 and 20 weeks and also several others - all on the NHS - to allay any anxieties. At all these scans the couple were told everything appeared to be normal. Yet when their daughter Charlotte was born, she had Down's syndrome.

The couple believe this should have been picked up before birth - while there was no question of them terminating the pregnancy, if they had known their daughter had Down's syndrome they would have been better prepared.

read complete article at Daily Mail

Ultrasound pinpoints to deliver local anaesthetic in more precise, safe way

Sydney, Feb 17 : Australian doctors have pioneered a new technique through which all major operations like amputations and surgery in obese patients can be performed without using general anaesthesia.

The new technique helps anaesthetists to numb body parts with pinpoint precision by using ultrasound machines to locate nerves.

The ultrasound allows the anaesthetists to use a "regional" injection for surgery of the limbs, hands and feet by targeting the exact position of the nerve.

source newKerala.com

Micro Power Supplies SonoSite with Battery Pack for Hand-Carried Ultrasound

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Micro Power, the global leader in portable power systems for mission-critical equipment, today announced that it designed and manufactured a new, custom Li-ion battery pack specifically for SonoSite, Inc.’s, latest point-of-care ultrasound systems, the M-Turbo™ hand-carried system and the S Series™ ultrasound tools.

Micro Power’s new battery pack not only powers SonoSite’s new, fourth-generation systems, but it is compatible with existing SonoSite products such as the MicroMaxx® and TITAN® systems. The battery pack provides over 60 Watts of power, 15% more power than current battery packs offered with SonoSite products.

Yahoo Busines

Prominent Bay Area Sonogram Program Undergoes Successful Transformation

The Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is proudly unveiling its newly restructured diagnostic medical sonography program.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- The Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, a private medical vocation institution, is unveiling its new and improved sonography program. The program provides select individuals with the technical, clinical and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed within the challenging field of sonography.

With an upgraded, state-of-the-art scan laboratory, students now have the rare opportunity to increase their skills from one of eight ultrasound systems, including the cutting edge MedSim Ultrasound Simulator. This ultrasound system is used during instructional scanning sessions before entering the clinical setting. All classrooms and libraries are equipped with modern audio-visual teaching aids, textbooks, journals and anatomical charts and models that enhance the quality of education received.

PR Web Press Release

ZONARE Ranked Top Hand Carried Ultrasound Vendor in 2007 KLAS Study

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Map) - MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- ZONARE Medical Systems, a developer of premium ultrasound systems, today announced it has been ranked as the top hand carried ultrasound (HCU) vendor in the inaugural KLAS HCU study. The company was ranked first in image quality, ergonomics and throughput, according to the survey, and second in reliability and durability.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this top HCU honor based on such a highly respected, independent survey," said Donald Southard, president and CEO for ZONARE. "To be rated as first in KLAS reflects on our commitment to meeting customer needs through innovation, excellent service and unique technology. Along with the significant growth of ZONARE since our first shipment in 2005, this recognition helps reconfirm the expanding acceptance of our proprietary Zone Sonography(TM) technology and Convertible Ultrasound(TM) platform."

examiner.com

Handhelds Become Instant Hit For Maker Of Ultrasound Devices

Marilyn Much

Shortly after SonoSite launched its newest product lineup in December, management knew it hit a home run. SonoSite (NasdaqGS:SONO - News), maker of hand-carried ultrasound systems, had just begun worldwide shipments of its new fourth-generation M-Turbo and S-Series devices

The five new offerings only had 40 days in the field for the fourth quarter. Yet they accounted for more than 30% of the quarter's revenue. This was the most revenue -- and the biggest percentage of total revenue -- generated by new products in their first quarter of shipping, Chief Executive Kevin Goodwin says.

Yahoo News

Central Florida Institute Gains Grant for Sonography Program

Tampa, FL, February 02, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Central Florida Institute becomes one of only two private, for-profit schools chosen to receive a 2007-08 SUCCEED, Florida! Grant.

How important is it to train students in the medical field? According to the SUCCEED, Florida! Grant Program – very.

Established in 2005, the SUCCEED, Florida! Grant Program was designed to face head-on the extreme shortage of what are deemed crucial professionals in the Florida workforce. One of those schools deemed crucial in the medical field is Central Florida Institute.

Central Florida Institute became one of the 21 community colleges and medical training schools to receive the 2007-08 SUCCEED, Florida! Grants and one of only two private, for-profit schools to receive a grant.

Press Release

Volcano Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance of Revolution Rotational Catheter and FFR for the s5i Integrated IVUS Console

First ever imaging system that incorporates phased Array IVUS, Rotational
IVUS and integrated FFR all onto a single platform, providing Physicians
and Administrators Choice

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Volcano Corporation
(Nasdaq: VOLC), a leading manufacturer of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
and functional measurement (FM) technology, announced today FDA 510(k)
clearance of the s5-Revo and s5-FFR (fractional flow reserve) options.
These two new product offerings now enable rotational IVUS and FFR to
operate on the same integrated Volcano s5 Imaging System as Volcano's
previous line of phased array IVUS catheters and functionality. For the
first time, physicians can choose among three powerful diagnostic tools --
all on the same integrated IVUS platform.

PR Newswire

University of Rochester Ultrasound Technology Licensed to GE

An ultrasound image-sharpening technology developed at the Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound (RCBU) at the University of Rochester has been licensed to General Electric Company, the world's largest producer of ultrasound equipment.

Now that General Electric joins Royal Philips Electronics, Siemens, and others as a licensee of the technology, 80 percent of the U.S. ultrasound manufacturing will now use the RCBU innovation. The Tucson-based company Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) manages the technology for the University, and continues its efforts to license the technology broadly to the ultrasound industry.

The technology, called tissue harmonic imaging, exploits the different ways ultrasound frequencies travel through tissue, revealing once-hidden structures within. With the technology, doctors can utilize dramatically sharper ultrasound images, such as when screening for breast cancer or cardiac imaging, regardless of the kind of tissue being examined.

University of Rochester

Heart Health Risk Assessment Gets Easier - New Standards for Carotid Ultrasounds

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of
Echocardiography (ASE) today issued a new consensus statement for
interpreting and responding to results of a carotid ultrasound study for
cardiovascular disease risk assessment. The statement provides specific
guidance for detecting early atherosclerotic plaques and increased
thickness of the carotid -- also known as carotid intima-media
thickness (CIMT). By following the consensus statement, doctors will be
more confident recommending aggressive preventive therapies if ultrasound
reveals the walls of the carotid arteries are thicker than established cut
points for patients of similar age, sex and race. Identifying patients who
have hidden risks for heart disease without invasive procedures should help
improve patient care and treatment success rates.

source - PR Newswire

New tool advances injury care

By Jomay Steen

About 100 patients from the Black Hills area have undergone the emerging technology of musculoskeletal ultrasound, a diagnostic ultrasound that is proving to be useful in sports medicine, rheumatology, orthopedics and podiatry.

One of the easiest and most accurate tools for diagnosing soft tissue injuries and pathology, musculoskeletal ultrasound is an accurate, quick, noninvasive and cost-effective method, according to Dr. Steve Wisniew-ski of Rehab Doctors.

Wisniewski, 31, is one of only a handful of doctors trained to do musculoskeletal ultrasound to see tendons, ligaments and joints while they move. It uses sound waves to help diagnose and treat injuries.

Rapid City Journal

Lung ultrasound can detect occult traumatic pneumothorax in the ED

Results of a prospective study suggest that lung ultrasonography performed in the emergency department may be nearly as accurate as computed tomography (CT) in detecting occult traumatic pneumothorax (PTX) and its size.

"Although presently considered to be the reference diagnostic standard for PTX, CT lung scanning may have some disadvantages, including the need for patient transportation and high doses of radiation," the study team notes in the January issue of Chest.

MedicExchange.com