New Product Will Broaden 3D/4D Technologies - MEDISON To Launch ACCUVIX V20 In 2nd Half

MEDISON Co., Ltd (CEO: JB Choi, www.medison.com), a world leader in 3D/4D ultrasound systems and the first to develop and commercialize 3D ultrasound image technology, plans a global launch of its new ACCUVIX V20 model in the second half of this year..

The technology-intensive new product is to be showcased at major international conferences and exhibitions, starting with the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetric and Gynecology 2008 in Chicago in August.

The ACCUVIX V20 will be commercially launched in the market at the same time.

source: Medical News Today

Simple Ultrasound Exam May Predict Osteoporosis Risk

OAK BROOK, Ill. — An ultrasound exam of the heel may be able to predict if a woman is at heightened risk for fractures due to osteoporosis, according to a new multicenter study being published in the July issue of the journal Radiology. Along with certain risk factors, including age or recent fall, radiation-free ultrasound of the heel may be used to better select women who need further bone density testing, such as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) exam.

"Osteoporosis is a major public health issue expected to increase in association with worldwide aging of the population," said the study's lead author Idris Guessous, M.D., senior research fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. "The incidence of osteoporosis will outpace economic resources, and the development of strategies to better identify women who need to be tested is crucial."

source: RSNA

Next Generation Ultrasound Provides Off-Court Assistance At World-Class Tennis Championships

The 2008 Artois Championships at The Queen's Club in London took place from 9- 15th June 2008. Top names including world number two Rafael Nadal, defending champion Andy Roddick and British number one, Andy Murray battled it out for the top prizes at the prestigious men's tournament.

The Doctors Room was on standby throughout the tournament to assess strains or any injuries obtained on the court, ensuring medical treatment could be administered without delay. The ACUSON S2000, a newly launched and advanced ultrasound solution from Siemens was in place to provide imaging assistance if required.

source: Medical News Today

Cone Instruments Releases New Ultrasound Catalog

SOLON, OH--(Marketwire - June 18, 2008) - Cone Instruments, a worldwide provider of medical imaging supplies, accessories, equipment and service, is issuing the 26th volume of its popular Ultrasound Catalog for 2008.

"It is a pleasure to present you with the 26th volume of Cone Instruments' Ultrasound Catalog for 2008. Cone Instruments has been able to successfully serve the imaging community for over 30 years. The most important key to that success is the loyalty of more than 6000 customers worldwide. As long as you continue to value doing business with a partner that offers competitive prices, a comprehensive product line and personalized service, Cone Instruments will be here for you," said Patrick C. Beck, President and CEO.

source: Marketwire

SonoSite Adds Four Transducers To M-Turbo System

BOTHELL, WA - June 12, 2008 - SonoSite, Inc., (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound for the point-of-care, announced today the first expansion of capabilities for the powerful M-Turbo™ system. The expanded platform includes four new transducers addressing anesthesia, surgery, venous access, musculoskeletal and adult and pediatric cardiology applications, plus further enhancements to emergency medicine documentation worksheets. It also enables playback on the M-Turbo system of the revolutionary SonoSite Education Key™ program training modules. Existing customers can easily upgrade their systems via a software download from a USB thumb drive. Customer shipments began this week.

“Ten years of focus and specialization on addressing the needs of clinicians at the point-of-care underlie the innovation of the M-Turbo system and its sister product line, the S Series™ ultrasound tools, that we introduced just a few months ago,” said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite President and CEO. “These products continue our tradition of setting a new performance benchmark in the industry."

source: SonoSite

GE Healthcare Announces Updates To Optison Prescribing Information

GE Healthcare announced significant updates to the Prescribing Information (PI) for its ultrasound contrast medium OPTISON TM (Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres Injectable Suspension, USP). The Company also announced that it will establish an external, independent safety monitoring board for Optison. These changes come after a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety review, in which the Agency revised the benefit/risk assessment for all perflutren microsphere contrast agents.

Changes to the Prescribing Information include removal of certain contraindications for the use of Optison in critically ill patients, which will enable physicians to use the agent to diagnose potentially life-threatening cardiac abnormalities. Additional changes include the removal of extensive monitoring requirements post-injection, in all but critically ill patients.

complete update at GE Healthcare

Ultrasound Contrast Agent Safe During Stress Echocardiogram

Research conducted at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in Houston shows that the use of ultrasound contrast agents during stress echocardiograms is safe. These results, revealed at the 19th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography, come just months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated a black box warning on labels of contrast agents used for cardiovascular ultrasound.

The risk of major adverse effects is no different in patients that received contrast during their stress echocardiogram than in those who did not receive contrast, according to research findings. This held true even though contrast was more often used in patients with a higher cardiac risk profile.

source: Medical News Today

Mindray's DC-3 Color Ultrasound Gains U.S. FDA 510(k) Clearance

SHENZHEN, China, June 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Mindray Medical International Limited (NYSE: MR), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide, today announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for its DC-3 color ultrasound imaging system. The clearance comes in addition to China State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") approval and CE Mark granted earlier this year for the sale of the DC-3 in Chinese and European markets, respectively.

"The compact DC-3 combines outstanding 2D imaging and exceptional color Doppler performance," said Mr. Li Xiting, Mindray's president and co-chief executive officer. "With a superior price-to-performance ratio, we are confident that this versatile product will meet the diverse needs and requirements of hospitals, doctors' offices and veterinary clinics around the world."

source: Mindray

Coronary Disease: A New Perspective Thanks To Ultrasound

Compared to other techniques, Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is much better at monitoring the increase or decrease of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Can the method even be used to predict the odds of a heart attack or other cardiovascular event? Studies indicate this may be the case, states Professor Clemens von Birgelen in his inaugural address at the University of Twente. Results of IVUS measurements also raise the question of whether patients with demonstrated coronary disease should be treated with more powerful cholesterol-lowering statins to reverse atherosclerosis. Von Birgelen's inaugural address takes place on 5 June.

Narrowed coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis can be visualised using 'classic' cardiac catheterisation, but the technique only shows the space the blood flows through, the 'lumen', and not the diseased vascular wall surrounding it. By using a specialised catheter with an ultrasound 'sensor', IVUS also creates images of the calcifications, the 'plaque', and allows various components of the plaque to be identified not only calcium, but also fat and connective tissue.

source: Medical News Today

New ultrasound company offers ‘real time’ 4D foetal imaging

Innervision, the west’s 4D ultrasound specialist clinic, offers expectant parents the opportunity to see their baby. State of the art 4D ultrasound technology provides live recording of the baby from within the womb. The 3D images are captured in real time to produce 4D footage which can be recorded onto a DVD.

An ultrasound scan obtains pictures from inside the body using sound waves. The high frequency sound is transmitted through the skin and reflected by the body. These 'echoes' form a picture on the screen, and no special preparation is necessary for the examination. In obstetrics, the ultrasound is an essential imaging tool used to clearly visualise the foetus in the womb.

source: Galway Advertiser

SonoSite Responds to Second GE Lawsuit in Wisconsin

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound at the point-of-care, said today that the General Electric Company (GE) filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on May 22 seeking to invalidate SonoSite’s US Patent No. 5,722,412, “Hand Held Ultrasonic Diagnostic Instrument” (“the 412 patent”). SonoSite has performed a preliminary assessment of the case and believes GE’s claim is baseless and without merit.

“GE’s latest filing is yet another attempt to slow our strong momentum,” said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite President and CEO. “Our momentum is growing because our small, innovative hand-carried systems are having a significant, global impact on patient safety and the cost of healthcare. Because GE is not winning with product innovation or customers, they challenge us in the courts yet again by filing another meritless lawsuit. We strongly believe that there is no legal basis for this lawsuit and we will proceed firmly ahead to defend our legal rights. We will continue to invest in customer-centered innovation, education and service while remaining focused on the needs of clinicians at the point-of-care.”

source: Business Wire

Bioeffects Consensus Report Featured In Journal Of Ultrasound In Medicine

The April 2008 issue of the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (JUM) includes an important special feature, the "AIUM Consensus Report on Potential Bioeffects of Diagnostic Ultrasound," which addresses issues related to the bioeffects of diagnostic ultrasound and is intended for use in assessing its risks and benefits.

The report includes 5 articles that provide extensive evaluations of 5 bioeffects categories: postnatal thermal effects, fetal thermal effects, postnatal mechanical effects, fetal mechanical effects, and bioeffects considerations for ultrasound contrast agents. Each article provides an in-depth analysis, conclusions, and recommendations for use.

source: MedicalNewsToday

Siemens Intracardiac AcuNav Ultrasound Catheter to be Opened for Use on Third Party Ultrasound Systems

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 14 - Siemens Healthcare (www.siemens.com/healthcare) today announced that it would extend its strategic alliance with Biosense Webster, Inc. by opening up the ACUSON AcuNav(TM) ultrasound catheter for use on third party ultrasound systems. In 2006, the two companies announced an agreement giving Biosense Webster the exclusive worldwide rights to distribute Siemens' ACUSON AcuNav ultrasound catheters, as well as a co-development of the technology in the future.

The ACUSON AcuNav ultrasound catheter provides electrophysiologists and interventional cardiologists with high-quality, real-time diagnostic ultrasound images and Doppler blood flow information from within the heart. Cleared for marketing in 1999, the intracardiac catheter is known for its state-of-the art quality and is currently the world's only cardiac imaging ultrasound catheter.

source ThomasNet Press Release

Volcano Announces Acquisition of Novelis, Inc.

SAN DIEGO, May 19, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----Volcano Corporation (Nasdaq: VOLC), a provider of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), functional measurement (FM) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease, said today that it has acquired Novelis, Inc., a privately-held company with proprietary ultrasonic visualization and therapy technology for minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic devices.

Novelis' proprietary Forward-Looking IVUS technology platform is expected to build upon Volcano's existing suite of products and further enhance Volcano's position as an imaging technology leader in the field of interventional medicine by enabling forward-looking IVUS and associated therapies in the interventional cardiology market. Volcano expects to add the Novelis products and capability onto its s5i multi-modality integrated platform/hub.

source: Fox Business

European debut of the new system Acuson S2000 from Siemens

Siemens Healthcare is showing its Acuson S2000, the first ultrasound system of the new product series S, at the ECR (European Congress of Radiology) 2008 in Vienna. This system platform includes integration of the newest technologies to optimize workflows and once again considerably simplify the physician's work. Thus the Acuson S2000 has been equipped with comprehensive software applications such as a new software for breast imaging. The system is also well equipped for future technologies: It enables the implementation of innovative ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse) imaging and is prepared for integration of new silicon ultrasound technology, which is almost ready for the market. The Acuson S2000 is suitable for internal medicine radiology imaging including vascular diagnosis and echocardiography as well as gynecology and obstetrics.

One of the most innovative ultrasound applications of the new system is the so-called ARFI ultrasound. It compresses the tissue using acoustic energy and thus allows for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the stiffness of deep tissue. Current research work indicates that this type of evaluation can be helpful in differentiating abnormalities such as liver tumors or quantifying the advancement of fibrosis (development of excess connective tissue).

source: Siemens Healthcare

New Guide to Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Teaches Diagnosticians and Technicians the Latest Techniques

Sunman, IN (PRWEB) May 16, 2008 -- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for the Extremities by Dr. Randy E. Moore is a straight-forward, easy-to-follow guide which stresses recognition of normal anatomy as a prerequisite to identifying pathology.

In the last 20 years, diagnostic ultrasonography has made tremendous strides. There has been an increase in the use of this process to image musculoskeletal structures and extremities. Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Extremities by Moore is an introduction to the interactive process of scanning protocols. The book provides a foundation in which physicians can develop more advanced scanning abilities and improve evaluation and treatment of patients.

Clearly written and filled with color photographs, the book offers advice on everything from equipment selection to tips for technicians. Moore has also included sample reports.

source: Press Release