Monday, November 29, 2010

ZONARE Delivers High-End Image Quality and New Applications for z.one Ultrasound Platform

CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc., a developer of high-end ultrasound solutions, today announced a new software release for its z.one ultrasound platform here at the 96th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Nov. 28 – Dec. 3, 2010. Designed to continually improve image quality and system performance, the 11th software release in six years also includes new advanced software applications and transducers which further expands the clinical utility of the z.one system in radiology, obstetric and vascular imaging.

"Through our proprietary Zone Sonography™ Technology (ZST) and exclusive focus on ultrasound excellence, we have invested heavily to develop new innovative software-based capabilities that continuously elevate the performance of our z.one system," said Jay D. Miller, president and CEO, ZONARE Medical Systems. "This latest software release includes additional software applications and new transducers that expand the value and versatility of the z.one system across a wide variety of clinical applications."

Building on the comprehensive 3D ultrasound imaging capabilities available on the z.one ultra system, ZONARE has now added real-time 3D ultrasound imaging capabilities (4D).

The C8-33D Curved Array transducer is available for the z.one ultrasound system with primary applications for obstetrical imaging during the second and third trimesters. The C8-33D transducer offers 3D/4D fetal surface rendering, 3D/4D Multi-Planar Rendering (MPR) and additional diagnostic tools. These new 3D/4D imaging capabilities are also available for general abdominal ultrasound imaging that includes MPR and tomographic viewing.

complete article: Zonare

Saturday, November 27, 2010

BK Medical Announces Expanded Applications for Its Flex Focus 700 Ultrasound System and New Versatile Power Pack Solution at RSNA Show in Chicago

PEABODY, Mass., Nov 23, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- BK Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation /quotes/comstock/15*!alog/quotes/nls/alog (ALOG 47.04, -0.44, -0.93%) , announced expanded capabilities for its recently introduced Flex Focus(TM) 700 ultrasound system and BK Power Pack, to address the breadth of radiology applications in addition to interventional radiology procedures. The Flex Focus 700 and the new BK Power Pack will be showcased at the 96th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Nov. 28 -- Dec. 2, 2010 (Booth #7128).

"It is our goal to continue to offer physicians new applications and technological advancements that not only expand the use of ultrasound, but significantly improve the delivery of care to patients in an environment that is safe and efficient," said Michael Brock, president of BK Medical. "The new Flex Focus 700 is extremely mobile, with up to four hours of cordless imaging. Its intuitive user interface enables physicians to customize the settings to address a variety of clinical applications and needs in radiology."

The Flex Focus 700 is a premium performance ultrasound system designed for interventional radiology procedures with expansion for full radiology applications. The new BK Power Pack is a full back-up power solution for the Flex Focus family of ultrasound systems that ensures cordless imaging for up to four hours, allowing improvements to workflow and significant reductions in patient wait times.

source: MarketWatch

Friday, November 26, 2010

SuperSonic Imagine Signs Exclusive U.S. Breast Ultrasound Partnership Agreement with Hologic, Inc.

AIX EN PROVENCE, France, Nov 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SuperSonic Imagine, the innovative producer of ultrasound equipment, announced today that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Hologic, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!holx/quotes/nls/holx (HOLX 16.63, -0.17, -1.01%) to develop the breast ultrasound market in the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Hologic will sell, install and service SuperSonic Imagine's Aixplorer(R) MultiWave(TM) ultrasound system exclusively to the breast care community in the United States. SuperSonic Imagine has retained U.S. rights for the commercialization of the Aixplorer ultrasound system in all other clinical applications to include; liver, thyroid, abdominal, musculoskeletal, gynecological and prostate imaging.

SuperSonic Imagine's Aixplorer ultrasound system is the only product on the market that uses two waves to better characterize tissue: an ultrasound wave (B-mode) and a shear wave. Thanks to this revolutionary MultiWave(TM) Technology, Aixplorer is the only system available that can generate, capture and compute shear wave velocity in real time, resulting in a color-coded map of local tissue elasticity in kilopascals.* This technology, named ShearWave(TM) Elastography, is user-skill independent, as it does not rely on compression; therefore, it is fully reproducible and can monitor lesion stiffness over time.

source: MarketWire

Thursday, November 18, 2010

U-Systems Announces Initiation of European Breast Ultrasound Screening Study

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U-Systems, the leader in Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) technology announced participant enrollment has begun in the European Asymptomatic Screening Study (EASY) at Capio Saint Göran Hospital, in Stockholm, Sweden. The clinical study is designed to determine whether Full Field Digital Mammography combined with the somo•v® Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) can improve breast cancer detection when compared to Mammography alone in women with dense breast tissue. This study is particularly relevant to the many population based screening programs in Europe which practice a double-reading methodology for screening, where two different radiologists independently review breast imaging exams. The study protocol has accommodated the standard screening practices in Sweden and outlined a process for integrating ABUS review into an existing double-read system.


Screening mammography, the mainstay for breast cancer detection, has known limitations in women with dense breast tissue and these women have a higher risk of breast cancer. A new approach is needed to improve breast cancer detection for women with increased breast density. The EASY breast cancer screening study will help determine if using this 3D ultrasound imaging technology in combination with a digital mammogram could improve the accuracy of routine screenings for women with dense breast tissue, for which mammography can be less effective. The study intends to recruit 8,000 asymptomatic women with dense breast tissue.

source: Business Wire