Ultrasound

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the American College of Emergency Physicians have announced the publication of a joint protocol for blunt abdominal injuries.

Philips is working with contrast agent developer ImaRx to find information that might turn diagnostic ultrasound scanners into weapons against acute ischemic stroke, the companies announced early this month. Research at Oregon Health & Science University may complement Philips’ collaboration, providing information to use against a disease with annual medical costs approaching $63 billion.

Philips is working with contrast agent developer ImaRx to find information that might turn diagnostic ultrasound scanners into weapons against acute ischemic stroke, the companies announced early this month. Research at Oregon Health & Science University may complement Philips’ collaboration, providing information to use against a disease with annual medical costs approaching $63 billion.

Judging by large clinical trials on two different imaging platforms, breast ultrasound elastography is moving closer to mainstream use as a means of helping prevent biopsies of benign lesions.

Bedside ultrasound quickly and accurately verifies the placement of endotracheal tubes in pediatric patients, even when the standard tests give false-negative or equivocal results, according to a recent study.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the carotid artery can identify the presence and degree of vascularization in atherosclerotic plaque, providing a noninvasive way to measure the existence and degree of atherosclerosis, according to a recent study.

In an unlikely gathering, representatives of medical imaging and petroleum industries met Nov. 12 at the University of Houston to explore common mechanical problems associated with moving blood and oil through vessels and pipelines.

If we were to believe vendors, radiology would be awash in breakthroughs. But, in reality, industry advances are rare, which is all the more reason to celebrate the events of RSNA 2007.

An overwhelming majority of the audience at an RSNA special focus session voted in favor of keeping up the efforts to get FDA approval for the use of contrast ultrasound for general radiology applications.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injections hold up as a treatment for controlling neck recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma. They could be effective for patients who are poor candidates for surgery.

From the first Monday of October to the end of the month, vendor SonoSite commercially launched five hand-carried ultrasound products. It was a month that could change the course of ultrasound.

Breast ultrasound significantly increases detection of cancers in high-risk women but takes a big toll in the rate of benign biopsies, according to the initial results of a screening trial sponsored by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the Avon Foundation.

Medison America spotlights the Accuvix V10 this week at the RSNA meeting. The ultrasound scanner, which appeared last year as a work-in-progress, cleared the FDA in spring. It supports 3D/4D imaging, as well as spectral, color, and power Doppler.

Toshiba showcases Titan3D transducers enhance Toshiba ultrasoundPalmheld and handheld join Siemens ultrasoundAccuvix V10 joins Medison portfolio

The palm-sized Acuson P10 ultrasound scanner appears this week as a commercial product from Siemens Medical Solutions along with the laptop-based Acuson P50. The P50 is designed for mobile environments but is outfitted with diagnostic-level capabilities, including high-quality gray-scale as well as color and Doppler imaging. Its primary applications will be in cardiology and vascular imaging.

Toshiba America Medical Systems upgraded its Xario XG and Aplio ultrasound sytems with three transducers, each capable of volumetric scanning. The additions expand the range of these systems, which previously had depended on only one transducer for 4D imaging. The transducers can be applied to transvaginal/obstetric, prostate, small parts including breast, testes, and thyroid, and abdominal scanning.

An overwhelming majority of the audience at an RSNA special focus session Thursday voted in favor of keeping up the efforts to get FDA approval for the use of contrast ultrasound for general radiology applications.

Radiologists must become more alert to the extensive range of health problems faced by patients who swallow fish bones, according to a thought-provoking poster from Spain that was one of eight international exhibits to scoop a prestigious Magna Cum Laude award in the vast RSNA 2007 poster hall on Wednesday afternoon.

GE updates Signa platformSiemens introduces high-end ultrasound classHitachi debuts flagship ultrasoundEsaote enhances compact ultrasound

The hierarchy of ultrasound systems at Hitachi Medical Systems America has a new flagship. Particularly noteworthy on the HI Vision 900 is an elastographic capability that characterizes pathologies based on ultrasonic measurements of the relative stiffness of tissue.

The S-2000 ultrasound scanner, takes shape this week as a new commercial product at the high end of the Siemens Medical Systems’ ultrasound portfolio. The S-2000, cleared by the FDA in mid-October, does not replace the Sequoia, Siemens’ flagship since it acquired ultrasound pioneer Acuson six years ago. Instead, it complements the system, according to Siemens executives, by combining best-of-breed technologies from Sequoia with Siemens’ ultrasound platforms developed prior to the Acuson acquisition.

A new ultrasound system and an upgrade to an existing product from Esoate address interest in compact ultrasound.

An enhanced version of the z.one convertible ultrasound system, z.one ultra, appeared this week from Zonare Medical Systems. The upgrade automatically adjusts gain and brightness and traces spectral Doppler waveform.

Siemens robot revolutionizes interventional imagingToshiba spotlights contrast-free MRAZonare showcases z.one ultraHitachi releases 16-slice CTItalian vendor updates open MR

MRI has outrun other modalities in a screening trial involving high-risk women. Such research helps justify an estimated $1.4 billion a year in direct costs for the U.S. if new American Cancer Society guidelines are followed.