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

Reports of Ultrasound Bubble Contrast Agents Are Overblown, Physicians Say

by Lynn Shapiro, Writer

The reports of serious side effects and deaths being linked to the contrast agents Definity made by Lantheus Medical Imaging, and Optisom, made by GE Healthcare, are overblown, say Dr. Christopher M. Kramer, a professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Virginia Health System and Dr. Don Black, vice president of research and development for the medical diagnostics division of GE Healthcare.

FDA placed a black box warning on the two agents last October after receiving about 200 reports of serious allergic reactions and deaths due to the contrast agents.

However, Dr. Kramer told DOTmed News that upon reviewing the cases, it became clear that the deaths occurred because the patients who were given the dye were terminally ill.

source: DotMed News

GE Healthcare Enhances Service Capabilities To Address Continued Growth Of Compact Ultrasound Systems

GE Healthcare announced that its LOGIQ e compact ultrasound users are embracing a new service that allows them to connect their ultrasound systems, via secure broadband connection, to the technical support and clinical applications experts at GE's LiveAssist Center. This innovative digital connectivity, called InSite ExC, provides customers with "real time" remote resolution of service and applications events.

"Fast response is especially important to our LOGIQ e customers," said Ann Marie Lubert, GE Healthcare's General Manager of Ultrasound Americas Services, noting that the devices are used primarily in such settings as emergency departments, surgical suites, anesthesiology, cardiology and private physicians' offices. "At these sites, backup equipment may not be readily available. So remaining operational is absolutely critical."

source: GE Healthcare

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