MedSim and Sonus eye contrast training

Ultrasound training simulator developer MedSim of Kfar-Sava, Israel, and contrast agent firm Sonus Pharmaceuticals of Bothell, WA, have agreed to jointly develop a training program that will help physicians learn to use ultrasound contrast more effectively. The two companies are planning to develop a contrast module that will run on MedSim's UltraSim ultrasound training simulator (SCAN Special Report 4/97).

UltraSim enables users to conduct virtual ultrasound exams by scanning a mannequin and accessing ultrasound data stored on CD-ROM that correspond to the area being examined. Sonus hopes an UltraSim contrast module will help the company train large numbers of physicians in the use of its EchoGen contrast agent for echocardiography. The companies plan to conduct a feasibility study on the module at a major U.S. ultrasound teaching institution.