GE Healthcare introduced the new LOGIQ E9 with XDclear, a new general imaging ultrasound system. Built from the acclaimed LOGIQ E9 platform, new features on the company’s premium product allow for increased penetration on large patients with improved clarity and diagnostic confidence.
Philips Healthcare debuted the ClearVue 550 (pending 510(k) clearance), which is designed to be a user-friendly, lightweight and energy-efficient ultrasound system that produces high-quality imaging at an affordable price. The product uses proprietary Active Array technology, which results in enhanced image quality in both 2D and color images, lighter-weight cabling, increased system reliability, and easier serviceability. The versatile platform aims to meet a broad range of clinical application needs, including abdominal, OB/Gyn, small parts, vascular, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pediatrics, urology, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) imaging.
Samsung Electronics America (Ridgefield Park, NJ) introduced Accuvix A30, which features the proprietary EZ Exam and ElastoScan. Its 21.5-inch LED monitor combined with 3D performance is designed to deliver high image quality. The Hybrid Beamforming Engine is for detailed scanning and improved color performance. Hybrid Beamforming, also known as spatial filtering, offers greater flexibility than standard omnidirectional reception and transmission.
Siemens Healthcare introduced a wireless transducer as part of the ACUSON Freestyle ultrasound system. The wireless transducer eliminates the impediment of cables in ultrasound imaging and the cable-less solution addresses infection control risk in sterile interventional settings. The ACUSON Freestyle system employs a synthetic aperture imaging technology, an integration of proprietary hardware and software that was specifically developed for the wireless signal transmission of full-resolution digital image data at very high data rates. This design reduces the transducer’s power requirements, increasing battery life. Wireless real-time ultrasound data transmission is further enabled through a novel ultra-wideband radio technology, which, operating at a high frequency of 7.8 GH, is not susceptible to interference with other electronic equipment. The user can operate the transducers up to 3 meters away from the system. The ACUSON Freestyle system has a 38-cm, high-resolution LED display. Three wireless transducers are available for the ACUSON Freestyle system, covering a range of general imaging, vascular, and high-frequency applications such as musculoskeletal and nerve imaging.
Supersonic Imagine (Aix-en Provence, France) touted its Aixplorer ultrasound system providing ShearWave™ elastography (SWE) and UltraFast™ Doppler (UFD). SWE is a proven technology that displays local tissue elasticity on a color-coded map in real-time. UFD unites color flow imaging with pulsed wave DopplerUltraFast Doppler, which unites color flow imaging with pulsed wave Doppler, is said to have frame rates up to 10 times faster than conventional color Doppler. The system also acquires fully quantifiable Doppler data throughout the color box, enabling the generation of post-processed pulsed wave Doppler spectra from multiple locations in the same image.
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (Tustin, CA) showed innovations to the Aplio 500 ultrasound system. The system comes optional with Fly Thru and Smart Fusion features. Fly Thru uses 3-dimensional volume rendering to “fly through” interiors of ducts and vessels for better exploration of lesions and masses, and to assist in planning interventional procedures. The other feature, Smart Fusion, shows both CT and ultrasound images side-by-side on a single screen. Smart Fusion syncs the 2 images, helping to locate hard-to-find lesions and aiding in ultrasound-guided biopsy without additional CT scans.
Another upgrade is Luminance (a work-in-progress), a 4D rendering and lighting technique producing fetal images. Luminance can be used to examine the fetal face and other anatomical structures by applying color and illumination to enhance features.
ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) highlighted its ultrasound image quality with the Zone Sonography Technology (ZST) for its z.one system. The company has added real-time 3D ultrasound imaging capabilities (4D), the new C8-33D Curved Array transducer for the z.one ultrasound system with primary applications for obstetrical imaging during the second and third trimesters; the C8-33D transducer for 3D/4D fetal surface rendering and 3D/4D Multi-Planar rendering. These capabilities are available for abdominal ultrasound imaging that includes MPR and tomographic viewing. Also new is the E9-33D transducer designed for high-quality 2D, 3D, and 4D imaging for endovaginal applications with imaging frequency choices form 9-3MHz.
ZONARE also presented a contrast-enhanced imaging feature using the P4-1c Phased Array echocardiography transducer, and showed contrast-enhanced imaging for the left ventricular opacification (LVO).
Review made by: http://www.appliedradiology.com/Issues/2013/01/Tech-Trends/RSNA-2012-Review--Radiologists-put-patients-first-and-play-a-visible-role.aspx