Advanced New LA County-USC Trauma Center Redefines Resuscitation Through Integrating Mounted Point-Of-Care Ultrasound

BOTHELL, WA - October 7, 2008 - SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO), the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound in point of care medicine, announced today that the new Los Angeles County-USC (LAC+USC) Medical Center has installed 12 S-FAST™ point-of-care ultrasound tools in each of its major resuscitation bays, where the most critically ill and injured people are treated. LA County Hospital is one of the country’s largest and busiest Level I trauma centers with 150,000 ED patient visits annually and is recognized worldwide as a leader in trauma care.

By mounting SonoSite’s zero-footprint ultrasound tools on the Steris® Harmony Ceiling System resuscitation towers with defibrillators, cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters and other critical care equipment, this highly advanced Level 1 trauma center moves to the forefront of integrating ultrasound into patient resuscitation and trauma care. Opening to patients on November 7, LA County-USC Medical Center will become the world’s first emergency department to integrate point-of-care ultrasound in such a comprehensive way.

source: SonoSite

Terason Launches IMPACT 2008 to Provide Unique Advantage in Laptop Ultrasound Market

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TERASON, the innovator and leader in patented ultrasound microsystem technology, advances its handheld laptop ultrasound system with the release of IMPACT 2008. With this release, Terason focuses on bringing a superior cost-effective patient care solution through its Windows® based architecture to our customers. IMPACT 2008 advances the overall performance and functionality of ultrasound across various applications.

IMPACT 2008 encompasses many new features and benefits advancing the overall image quality of Terason’s Ultrasound Systems. Superior image quality is enriched through proprietary new algorithms, lateral resolution, Advanced Harmonic Imaging (AHI) and OmniVision. The increase in lateral resolution is achieved without decreasing the frame rate. OmniVision features electronic beam steering for rapidly acquiring several scans from many different viewing angles for more confidence in visualization and diagnosis. OmniVision reduces speckle, shadowing, clutter and other acoustic artifacts, resulting in exceptional contrast resolution and tissue differentiation. New grayscale maps provide clinicians with exquisite grayscale imaging, as well as additional choices in image displays. Terason’s unique advanced harmonic imaging algorithm is further optimized for the 5C2 and 4V2 transducers, reducing artifacts and improving contrast resolution.

source: Business Wire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catheter Procedures Guided By Tiny 3-D Ultrasound Probe

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.

source: Medical News Today

SonoSite Expands Clinical Capabilities on S Series Products

Transducers Added to S-FAST, S-ICU, S-MSK, S-Nerve and S-Cath Ultrasound Tools

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SonoSite, Inc. (SONO:
sonosite inc com, the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound for the point-of-care, announced today that it has begun customer shipments of its first major expansion of capabilities for the S Series(TM) ultrasound tools. The upgrade adds four transducers covering a wide range of clinical applications to the S Series product line and enables playback of the revolutionary SonoSite Education Key(TM) program training modules. It is available for purchase to existing customers and can be easily downloaded from a USB thumb drive.

Recently, the S Series was recognized with its second, coveted design award, an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA), from an annual, juried competition co-sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and BusinessWeek, that highlights the most innovative and exciting product and product concept designs of the year.

source: SonoSite

Philips New Handheld Ultrasound System Offers Premium Image Quality In A Portable System

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) announced the launch of its advanced handheld ultrasound system, the Philips CX50 CompactXtreme. Designed to meet the needs of cardiologists for clear diagnostic data at the bedside, the new compact system combines the image quality expected of a traditional, premium, full-size system with the convenience of portability.

"Following extensive research into clinicians' needs, we've designed a laptop-sized system that can help them get to patients quickly-no matter where they are in the hospital or clinic-and which can produce high quality images regardless of the difficulty of the situation at hand," said Anne LeGrand, senior vice president and general manager, Ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare.

source: Philips

GE Healthcare Committed To Sports Medicine, Supports The Medical Team Of The Spanish Olympic Committee With Its Leading Compact Ultrasound System

GE Healthcare, the US$17 billion healthcare business of General Electric Company (GE), announces broadening the use of its LOGIQ e, a leading compact ultrasound system to the medical team of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE).

This system will be used prior, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, on all elite Spanish athletes. GE Healthcare's LOGIQ e, will now offer the COE a more proactive approach to elite athlete injury care management, bringing earlier diagnosis to the point of care.


source: Medical News Today