Microbubble ultrasound and breast biopsies

Using "microbubbles" and ultrasound can mean more targeted breast biopsies for patients with early breast cancer, helping to determine treatment and possibly saving those patients from undergoing a second breast cancer surgery, a new study in shows.

Patients with early breast cancer undergo a sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine if their cancer has spread, said Dr. Ali Sever, lead author of the study. Ultrasound, on its own, can't distinguish the sentinel lymph node from other lymph nodes, Dr. Sever said. However, "our study found that microbubble contrast- enhanced ultrasound accurately identified the sentinel lymph node in 89% of the 80 patients in our study."

As many as 35% of patients who undergo sentinel lymph node excision biopsy will require additional surgery because cancer has spread," Dr. Sever said. Using microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound preoperatively means that the cancer and cancer spread can be removed during one operation.

Currently blue dye and radioisotopes are used to identify sentinel lymph nodes at the time of surgical excision. While this technique is accurate, there are side effects for some patients, including an allergic reaction. In addition, the disposal of the radioisotopes (radioactive waste) poses an issue.

source: EurekAlert

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Improves Diagnosis of Medical Conditions in Children

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research released here Thursday shows that “contrast-enhanced ultrasound” (CEUS) can safely improve the diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions in children – without exposing them to ionizing radiation.

Dr. Martin Stenzel, a pediatric radiologist at the University Hospital in Jena, Germany, reported that no adverse safety event was found when CEUS was used to image some 50 pediatric patients at his hospital.

Stenzel presented his findings at the 16th European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging in Rotterdam. The conference, which was co-sponsored by the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS), featured the latest clinical and research developments in the CEUS field.

“Our experience shows that this technology works in children as well as adults,” Stenzel said.

The youngest patient Stenzel and his colleagues examined with CEUS, was two years old, he said.

Unlike CT and nuclear imaging, ultrasound scans do not expose patients to ionizing radiation – which is associated with an increased lifetime risk of cancer, according to Stenzel.

“It is especially important to avoid subjecting children to diagnostic tests that use ionizing radiation because children have many years to live and the risk of cancer is cumulative,” Stenzel said. “In addition, we do not know how ionizing radiation may affect future reproductive capacity or the impact it may have on their unborn children.”

Stenzel said that since CEUS images are not jeopardized by patient movement, the technique is particularly suitable for imaging young patients who will not lay still. “This avoids the need for sedating children prior to imaging,” he said.

source: Business Wire

St. Jude Medical Announces Launch of the ViewMate Z Intracardiac Ultrasound System and ViewFlex Plus ICE Catheter

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced the launch of its ViewMate(TM) Z Intracardiac Ultrasound System and ViewFlex(TM) Plus Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) Catheter.

The ViewMate Z System is designed for real-time image guidance and visualization of the cardiac anatomy. The system is able to deliver fast, high-fidelity images that help direct diagnosis or therapy during complex electrophysiology procedures. The system is compatible with the new ViewFlex(TM) Plus ICE Catheter, which offers improved one-handed control, steering angles up to 120° and enhanced tip stability. The ViewMate Z System is designed to allow clinicians to better visualize a patient's cardiac anatomy and the effects of treatment in real-time.

One of the industry's smallest cart-based systems, the ViewMate Z System offers greater portability and optimizes vital lab space while reducing obstructions in a clinician's workflow. The system was designed, developed and provided through St. Jude Medical's development and distribution agreement with ZONARE Medical Systems, a leading provider of high-end ultrasound systems.

source: St. Jude Medical

New Ultrasound Technique Helps Identify Patients Who Need Breast Biopsies

A new ultrasound technique is proving valuable in distinguishing malignant from benign breast lesions in some patients – results that could mean fewer unnecessary breast biopsies, a new study shows.

The study found that ultrasound elastography, which indicates tissue softness, can help predict cancer in patients with BI-RADS category 4 masses. “Because malignant tumors predominantly are harder than benign tissues, this technique significantly improves the differentiation between benign and malignant tissue” said Hiroko Satake, MD, lead author of the study. Dr. Satake is from Nagoya University School of Medicine in Japan.

“In an analysis of 115 breast masses that were recommended for biopsy (they were categorized as either BI-RADS 4 or BI-RADS 5), ultrasound elastography was 79% accurate in identifying cancer,” Dr. Satake said.

“By accurately identifying benign tumors with imaging, we may be able to avoid sending patients for unnecessary biopsies,” Dr. Satake said. Ultrasound elastography provides radiologists with elasticity scores, with lower scores meaning that the mass contains softer tissue. “Based on the results of our study, we recommend that patients with BI-RADS 4 masses should undergo biopsy if their ultrasound elasticity score is 4 or 5,” Dr. Satake said.

source: ARRS

Collaboration To Develop Guidelines For Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Applications Spearheaded By AIUM

LAUREL, MD - The AIUM recently hosted Ultrasound Practice Forum: Point-of-Care Use of Ultrasound on November 8 in Orlando, Florida. This ground-breaking conference brought together a cross section of the ultrasound community, drawing representatives from 46 medical and other health-related societies to explore professional issues related to emerging point-of-care ultrasound technologies.

“The AIUM Forum aimed to facilitate an open dialogue among the entire ultrasound community regarding performance and training issues for point-of-care applications”, said AIUM President Harvey L. Nisenbaum, MD. “With ultrasound playing an expanding role in several settings, the ultrasound community must collaborate to ensure the most effective use of the technology.”

Participants at the Forum were divided into 3 tracks focusing on point-of-care ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology, ultrasound-guided procedures, and emergency medicine/ critical care. Attendees included obstetricians, gynecologists, emergency physicians, radiologists, sports medicine physicians, osteopathic physicians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, sonographers, nurses, nurse midwives, physician assistants, physical therapists and others.

source: AIUM

Accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer with ultrasound

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, but its diagnosis has up to now been inaccurate and unpleasant. Researchers at TU/e, in cooperation with AMC Amsterdam, have developed an imaging technology, based on ultrasound, that can accurately identify tumors. The technology also has the potential to assess how aggressive tumors are. This can lead to better and more appropriate treatment, and to cost savings in health care.

The new technology uses the injection of microbubbles of a contrast agent with no side-effects. The response of the tiny bubbles to ultrasound is different from that of human tissue or blood. This makes the bubbles traceable from the outside, right into the smallest blood vessels. The pattern of blood vessels in tumors is different from that in healthy tissue. The researchers can recognize this pattern from advanced analysis of the bubble concentrations. And because tumors need blood – and hence new blood vessels – to grow, the researchers expect to be able to see how aggressive the cancer is from the pattern of the blood vessels.

source:Eindhoven University of Technology

BK Medical Wins Prestigious "Good Design Award" for Flex Focus Ultrasound System from Japan Industrial Design Organization (JIDPO)

PEABODY, Mass., Nov 29, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- BK Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation /quotes/comstock/15*!alog/quotes/nls/alog (ALOG 47.03, -0.05, -0.10%) , announced today that it has been awarded the distinguished 2010 Good Design Award from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO) for its Flex Focus(TM) ultrasound platform. In addition, BK Medical was awarded the iF Product Design Gold Award and the 2010 Red Dot Product Design Award for the Flex Focus system earlier this year. The Flex Focus family of ultrasound systems, including the new Flex Focus 700 and the Flex Focus 400, will be showcased at the 96th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Nov. 28 -- Dec. 2, 2010 (Booth #7128).

"We are truly honored to receive this distinguished design award from JIDPO, as it is clearly the prestigious worldwide trademark for outstanding design and quality," said Michael Brock, president of BK Medical. "The patented design of the Flex Focus system is compact with an intuitive user interface. Its large, high-resolution monitor offers clinicians an elegant, premium-performance diagnostic imaging system for medical procedures."

source: BK Medical

Mindray Announces Significant New Upgrades for M7 and DC-7 Ultrasound Platforms at RSNA

MAHWAH, N.J., Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Mindray Medical International Limited (NYSE: MR), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide, today announced two significant upgrades for its premium M7 ultrasound and high performance DC-7 platforms at the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) being held in Chicago, November 28 – December 2, 2010. The hand carried M7 unit (HCU), which was recently introduced in North America, will be available with an extensive variety of new transducers.

"The M7 platform has been well received since our first shipment to customers in June earlier this year," said Michael Thompson, Vice President of Ultrasound Sales, Mindray North America. "The M7 system elevates the HCU performance standard to a new level. Due to our highly upgradeable technology architecture, we are already introducing significant new enhancements for the M7 system as well as the DC-7 platform at this year's RSNA."

Other ultrasound systems, such as the M5 will also be highlighted. Two black and white systems, a cart-based and a portable, will be on display as well. All have gained growing popularity in North America as Mindray continues to build its support infrastructure in this key geographical market.

source: PR Newswire

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

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

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

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

Siemens Demonstrates Advanced 3D Imaging and Software Applications at ISUOG 2010

Prague, Czech Republic, October 10, 2010 – Highlighting a portfolio of advanced clinical applications and systems, Siemens Healthcare will showcase the latest solutions for OB/GYN at the 20th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Prague. Siemens will feature sophisticated imaging technologies and workflow enhancements on a comprehensive spectrum of products, including its exclusive syngo®.fourSight™ Workplace image management software – featuring a new immersive 3D imaging experience using professional graphics solutions.

Siemens syngo.fourSight Workplace brings a new dimension to volume imaging by delivering true stereoscopic views of 3D images for a 3D experience that is more immersive, detailed, and real-to-life than ever before. While conventional 3D ultrasound technologies use two-dimensional monitors for the evaluation of 3D images, syngo.fourSight Workplace uses a specially designed 3D monitor combined with high-end professional graphics solutions to create the most stunning 3D/4D images of the fetus in true 3D. Providing additional information to the physician and assisting in communication with surgeons and patients, this quality improvement may also aid in treatment and surgical planning.

source: Siemens Medical

Ultrasonix Announces New Digital Ultrasound Exam Recording Technology

Richmond, BC - September 23, 2010 - Ultrasonix Medical Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of high quality diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems is pleased to announce today the introduction of SonixVCR, a software-based innovation that records, stores, and exports entire exams in a standard digital format.

SonixVCR is an easy to use on-board recording feature that is enabled with the click of 1-button. Available on the Sonix Series ultrasound systems, SonixVCR can record up to 60 minutes of imaging per file, the same way an external VCR or digital recorder would – without the need for any additional hardware or external recording device.

SonixVCR files are compressed and saved as MPEG1 recordings and can be easily stored or shared electronically within the same HIPPA Compliance Protocols as still or multi-frame images. Because they are in a digital format they will not degrade over time as compared to traditional storage media such as VCR tapes or CD/DVD discs. Exam reviews are no longer limited to short clips. Instead the entire exam can be reviewed from start to finish. Since the file sizes are approximately 50 times smaller than comparable CINE clips, SonixVCR files can be easily distributed for review.

source: Ultrasonix

Siemens and National Semiconductor Align to Advance Ultrasound Technology

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept 07, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. and National Semiconductor Corporation today announced a wide-ranging strategic alliance to advance ultrasound technology, creating ultrasound imaging systems that produce enhanced image quality and advanced 3D/4D imaging capabilities, while consuming less power.

The strategic alliance brings together Siemens' leadership in ultrasound technology with National's energy-efficient analog semiconductor capabilities. National will provide leading-edge power management, signal path and transducer solutions while working closely with Siemens. Based on the companies' collaboration, Siemens' ultrasound systems will be able to provide next-generation imaging quality and ground-breaking new applications, while, at the same time, be more energy efficient. Working together, the end goal is to provide medical ultrasound systems that change the game in workflow efficiency, diagnostic reliability and ease of scanning.

source: MarketWatch

Philips Introduces Newly Enhanced Cardiac Ultrasound System

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced the enhanced iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system featuring a new ergonomic solution for more efficient adult echocardiograms, the X5-1 transducer. With this enhanced technology, Philips continues its tradition of simplified, patient-focused healthcare solutions by providing a more complete imaging solution. The system enables expanded cardiac-related diagnostic capabilities related to ischemic disease detection, structural heart disease assessment, as well as systolic and diastolic heart failure and arrhythmia. Aimed at supporting workflow improvements as well as providing clinical benefits, the iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system will be a highlighted display at the European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) in Stockholm, August 28 through September 1.

"The new iE33 xMATRIX ultrasound system represents a significant breakthrough in ultrasound; technology that gives clinicians new diagnostic tools and helps them examine patients more quickly," said Andrew Hatt, vice president and interim general manager, Ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare. "In addition, clinicians who have experienced scanning fatigue will appreciate that the X5-1 transducer combines the ergonomics of 2D transducers with the three-dimensional technology they need, to make the most informed patient care decisions possible."

source: PR Newswire