ZONARE Expands Product Portfolio Offering by Announcing New z.one ultra sp Ultrasound System

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – February 19, 2009 – ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc. announced the introduction of its new z.one ultra sp ultrasound system for point-of-care markets such as emergency medicine, interventional radiology, venous ablation, anesthesiology and ob/gyn. During this time of economic downturn, ZONARE is expanding its product portfolio by offering a new, premium performance system at a more attractive price point that addresses a broad range of clinical specialties.

The z.one ultra sp system builds upon the precedent set by the company’s z.one ultra system, offering superb image quality. Based on the company’s proprietary Zone Sonography™ technology, the new system offers a simple and intuitive user interface for a wider base of physicians. Clinicians can easily convert the z.one ultra sp system from a full-featured, cart-based system into a premium compact system without sacrificing image quality or performance.

cource: Zonare

SCAN: Delivering Bone Disorder Diagnosis, Fracture Healing

HOUSTON –– The fight against bone disorders that affect millions of Americans will soon receive a boost from an ultrasound device being developed by space biomedical researchers. The technology under development will allow early prediction of bone disorders such as osteoporosis and guided acceleration of fracture healing.

National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) scientists are developing the technology to assist astronauts during long-duration spaceflights. Like the elderly on Earth, astronauts in space lose bone structure and quality.

Dr. Yi-Xian Qin, associate team leader for NSBRI’s Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team, calls the new technology Scanning Confocal Acoustic Navigation (SCAN). He said the objective is to develop a small, mobile device that is easy to use and patient friendly.

“SCAN uses non-invasive and non-destructive ultrasound to image bone. It will allow us to identify weak regions, to make a diagnosis and to assist in healing fractures,” said Qin, who is also the director of the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory at Stony Brook University - State University of New York.

source: NSBRI

Study Brings Value of Echocardiography Into Focus

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The advanced imaging technique called contrast echocardiography had a significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of people hospitalized with heart disease, a new study found.

Echocardiography bounces sound waves into the body to get a detailed image of the moving heart. If that image isn't clear enough, it can be improved by injecting a substance, called a contrast agent, that reflects the sound waves better.

"After contrast echocardiography, the percentage of uninterpretable studies decreased from 11.7 percent to 0.3 percent, and technically difficult studies decreased from 86.7 percent to 9.8 percent," said a report published online Feb. 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"The importance of the study is that it is really the first time that we measured the impact of contrast echocardiography on assessment of ventricular function," said study leader Dr. William A. Zoghbi, professor of medicine and director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Center at the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston. "It measured the impact of it in clinical practice -- how does contrast echocardiography influence clinical management," Zoghbi said.

source: Yahoo News

Ultrasound Market Presents Opportunities for Growth Despite Recession

Despite the current economic downturn, the third edition of InMedica’s report on the global ultrasound market predicts that worldwide revenues will continue to experience robust growth and exceed $6 billion by 2012. The flexibility, ease of use and relatively low cost of ultrasound equipment has ensured continued growth in the market despite the current economic conditions. Moreover, the trend to miniaturization and the quick adoption of hand-carried ultrasound equipment is fueling growth.

“There is an increasing confidence in hand-carried systems globally. Previously the adoption of these systems was much quicker in North America and Western Europe but other regions of the world such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and parts of the Asia Pacific, are beginning to show significant interest in this equipment. The demand is coming from traditional applications, such as OB / GYN, and increasingly from point-of-care applications” reported Diane Wilkinson, Market Research Analyst at InMedica.

source: InMedica

Advanced Knowledge-based Applications for High-Risk Obstetrics

San Diego, Calif., January 29, 2008 – Siemens Healthcare (www.siemens.com/healthcare) highlights its latest ultrasound solutions for obstetrics at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in San Diego, January 29-30, featuring innovative knowledge-based workflow and 4D applications that increase diagnostic confidence and improve clinical workflow.

syngo® AutoOB measurements, available exclusively on Siemens’ premium performance ACUSON S2000™ ultrasound system, are an advanced clinical tool that automates routine biometry measurements of the fetus.

“Up until now, users needed to perform biometry measurements manually,” said Klaus Hambuechen, chief executive officer, Ultrasound, Siemens Healthcare. “syngo AutoOB measurements eliminate this time-consuming manual process by saving up to 75 percent of the keystrokes in routine fetal measurements. This may also help to reduce repetitive stress injury (RSI).”

source: Siemens Medical

GE Healthcare Extends Collaboration and Development With Medipattern

GE Healthcare's (NYSE:GE - News) Vascular Ultrasound group and The Medipattern Corporation (TSX VENTURE:MKI - News) are pleased to announce their plan to collaborate in the creation of Ultrasound-based Vascular Imaging Quantification Tools (Vascular iQ(TM)). GE Healthcare and Medipattern confirmed their plans to collaborate by signing a definitive collaboration agreement. Medipattern will leverage technology developed in its Cadenza(TM) algorithm platform and extend it with additional functionality to create Vascular iQ. Medipattern will create a generalized version of the vascular product while building an exclusive version for GE Healthcare ultrasound systems, which will be available to the market through GE's well-established distribution to clinicians around the world.

"GE Healthcare's Vascular Ultrasound team is committed to developing new technology to image and analyze vascular disease, increasing diagnostic confidence, and speeding patient treatment," said Michael Arbaugh, GE Healthcare General Manager of GE Healthcare's Vascular Ultrasound division. "Our investment in dedicated vascular expertise, support of vascular education, and unique vascular technologies are evidence of this commitment. GE is actively developing new ultrasound products to capture distinctive diagnostic images."

source: Medipattern

Philips announces new ultrasound system focused on the health needs of women

Dubai, UAE.—At Arab Health 2009 Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today launched a new ultrasound system, which focuses on helping clinicians deliver high quality care for a full range of women’s health needs. The HD9 system combines advanced imaging technology, including 3D and 4D capabilities, in an easy-to-use and reliable system for obstetrics, gynecology and breast imaging.

The HD9 system delivers a set of workflow features that help ensure imaging and processing are as efficient as possible, potentially saving time in busy clinics. The HD9 has also been built to withstand rigorous use and provide all the capabilities needed for day-to-day applications. It also includes advanced features such as intuitive 3D and 4D imaging designed for those new to volume imaging as well as experienced users.

As well as women’s health, the HD9 is also able to cater for applications including general imaging, adult and pediatric cardiology, general pediatric and urology.

source: Philips

BK Medical Introduces The Pro Focus UltraView Ultrasound System

BK Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), launches its new, full-featured ultrasound system, the Pro Focus™ UltraView™, for the surgical and urological ultrasound markets. This high-performance ultrasound system uses BK Medical's new IQPAC™ technology to provide premium images that make a diagnostic difference.

IQPAC technology combines BK Medical's proprietary Enhanced Tissue Definition and Angular Compound Imaging technologies to optimize the ultrasound image. Enhanced Tissue Definition intensifies anatomic borders by minimizing speckle, and Angular Compound Imaging uses images from several angles to create a superior compound image. Together, these two technologies enable IQPAC to provide significantly advanced image quality. The UltraView system also features a 19" high-definition monitor with scalable image size and a sealed keyboard for easy cleaning.

source: Medical News Today

St. Jude Medical Announces First Use Outside the U.S. of Imaging System for Real-Time Views inside the Heart

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2009--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) today announced the first use outside the United States of its ultrasound imaging system that enables physicians to view real-time images from inside the heart as they diagnose and treat conditions resulting from abnormal rhythms or structural problems. By providing clear, accurate images of the heart's interior anatomy and the position of devices, the system enables physicians to perform procedures with increased control.

The ViewMate(TM) II Ultrasound System with the ViewFlex(TM) PLUS Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) Catheter is one of many St. Jude Medical products featured this week at the Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium, which begins today and will be ongoing through Jan. 17 in Boston.

The ViewMate system uses ultrasound technology to produce high-resolution intracardiac (inside the heart) images. The system transmits high-frequency sound waves through a transducer on the tip of the catheter - the transducer converts electric energy into sound energy, the sound waves then reflect off structures inside the heart and the transducer converts them back into electric energy to produce the anatomical images.

source: St. Jude Medical

North Dakota Bill Would Require Providers To Offer Ultrasounds 24 Hours Before Performing Abortions

North Dakota Rep. Bette Grande (R) has introduced legislation (H.B. 1371) that would require abortion providers in the state to give women seeking abortions the option of viewing an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed, the AP/Grand Forks Herald reports. According to Grande, the bill may lead to fewer abortions. The bill would not require women to view the ultrasound images. Grande said she hopes that women will decide not to have abortions after they "see what they have inside their womb[s]." According to Mary Spaulding Balch, a spokesperson for the National Right to Life Committee, 18 states have similar laws in place, most of which were passed within the last two years. Grande added that for a woman coming to a clinic "with a possibility of an abortion, [an ultrasound] is just one more tool that person has [at her] disposal to find out exactly what the procedure will entail."

source: Medical News Today

Ultrasound Following Ureteroscopy Justified

Rosemary Frei, MSc

SHANGHAI—New findings may support the routine use of renal ultrasound examinations following ureteroscopy.

David S. Wang, MD, associate professor of urology at Boston University Medical Center, and his colleagues reviewed data on 289 patients who underwent ureteroscopy and had a follow-up renal ultrasound examination an average of 54 days postoperatively. Of these, 14 (4.8%) had asymptomatic ureteral obstruction and three of them required additional procedures to clear the obstruction.

The investigators believe routine renal ultrasound should be required after every ureteroscopy to prevent renal function deterioration in cases of undetected hydronephrosis.

source: Renal and Urology News

SonoSite Introduces S-Women’s Health™ Ultrasound Tool, Bringing Customization to Women’s Health

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SonoSite, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONO), the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound for the point-of-care, introduced today the S-Women’s Health ultrasound tool. The newest product in SonoSite’s S Series™ product line is an innovative, custom-designed solution to enable women’s health clinicians to provide comprehensive care in the patient exam room. It joins the M-OB/Gyn Office™ and the S-Gyn™ ultrasound tools as part of SonoSite’s innovative suite of products for women’s health.

“The S-Women’s Health is great to have in the exam room because if a patient comes in with a lump, I am able to quickly and easily determine if it is something like fibrocystic thickening, or if it requires additional evaluations,” said Deanna J. Attai, MD, FACS, Center for Breast Care in Burbank, California. “When you consider the quality and affordability of the system and the fact that you can pick it up and take it to the operating room, you just can’t get a better tool for your practice than the S-Women’s Health system.”

The S-Women’s Health ultrasound tool is designed with women’s health clinicians in mind. It is sophisticated, yet simple and easy to use. Buttons, dials and menus have been eliminated from the interface, with the exception of two controls- Depth and Gain- for acquiring the optimum image quality. SonoSite’s proprietary advanced technologies, SonoHD™ and SonoMB™, are incorporated, providing crystal-clear imaging and enabling the physician to visualize minute details. With the capacity to zero-in on a targeted area, SonoSite’s advanced SonoAdapt™ technology enables the clinician to confidently locate masses, target lesions, guide biopsies, and initiate a course of treatment.

source: SonoSite

Micro-Bubble Echo Contrast Procedures Continue to Rebound in October 2008

Both Definity(R) and OptisonTM Usage Increased During the Same Study Period, According To New Data from Arlington Medical Resources

MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlington Medical Resources (AMR), a provider of premier market intelligence for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries, finds that the number of micro-bubble echo contrast procedures performed in October 2008 have increased by more than 50 percent, to nearly 18,000 procedures, when compared to May 2008. Micro-bubble echo contrast procedures began declining sharply in October 2007, from nearly 55,000 procedures in September 2007, as a result of a black box warning issued by the FDA in October 2007.

A revised black box warning issued in May 2008 has contributed to this rebound as well as physicians and sonographers reestablishing protocols for contrast usage in their institutions. A micro-bubble echo contrast agent is administered intravenously and used for contrast enhancement during echocardiographic procedures.

source: PR Newswire

American Institute Of Ultrasound In Medicine To Host 2009 Annual Convention In New York

Registration is open for the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) 2009 Annual Convention and Preconvention Program to be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, New York, Thursday through Sunday, April 2-5, 2009.

Initial registration numbers indicate that 2009 will prove to be better attended than the 2007 meeting at this same location, regarded as the AIUM's most successful convention in history. During the 4-day meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest research in medical ultrasound, connect with colleagues from around the world, enhance their professional skills, and view the newest advancements in ultrasound technology while earning up to 33.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (accepted by the ARDMS) or ARRT Category A Credits.

source: Medical News Today

Study Finds Survival Benefit Among Hospitalized Patients Undergoing Definity®- Enhanced Echocardiography

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, announced recently new data from a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of over four million hospitalized patients that shows similar unadjusted mortality rates for patients receiving DEFINITY® Vial For (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension enhanced resting echocardiography exams when compared with patients who did not receive DEFINITY®. Although the patients that received DEFINITY® were sicker on average and had a higher baseline mortality risk prior to the exam, following DEFINITY® administration these same patients exhibited a 24% reduced risk of mortality over 24 hours compared to the those patients who received only echocardiography without the ultrasound contrast agent. These study findings were published in the December 2008 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

"As the largest retrospective, observational study to date to examine the short-term safety profile of perflutren-containing ultrasound contrast agents, the data highlight the relatively low incidence of adverse safety reactions associated with DEFINITY® and demonstrate a significantly lower risk of acute mortality for patients receiving DEFINITY®-enhanced echocardiograms," said Mark Hibberd, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. and co-author on the study.

source: Lantheus

Groundbreaking, Inexpensive, Pocket-sized Ultrasound Device Can Help Treat Cancer, Relieve Arthritis

Newswise — A prototype of a therapeutic ultrasound device, developed by a Cornell graduate student, fits in the palm of a hand, is battery-powered and packs enough punch to stabilize a gunshot wound or deliver drugs to brain cancer patients. It is wired to a ceramic probe, called a transducer, and it creates sound waves so strong they instantly cause water to bubble, spray and turn into steam.

Tinkering in his Olin Hall lab, George K. Lewis, a third-year Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering and a National Science Foundation fellow, creates ultrasound devices that are smaller, more powerful and many times less expensive than today's models. Devices today can weigh 30 pounds and cost $20,000; his is pocket-sized and built with $100. He envisions a world where therapeutic ultrasound machines are found in every hospital and medical research lab.

"New research and applications are going to spin out, now that these systems will be so cheap, affordable and portable in nature," Lewis said.
The development of one of his portable devices is detailed in the journal Review of Scientific Instruments (79-114302), published online Nov. 11

source: newswise