How to use ultrasound to detect and diagnose more challenging clinical cases is an important focus for companies at this week’s ECR meeting. Novel and updated products promise to make visualisation and assessment a little easier for healthcare professionals, particularly in the fields of liver, breast, cardiac, and vascular imaging.
The hardware and software on display at the congress are often the latest evolution in proven ultrasound systems. From the advancements in portability to algorithms that boost image speed and quality, vendors are demonstrating continued dedication to positive experiences for both clinicians and patients.
At its booth, Canon Medical Systems is featuring a range of liver analysis tools, including the company’s latest offering, attenuation imaging (ATI). The liver analysis suite, which also includes shear-wave elastography, shear-wave dispersion, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound, is designed to help imaging staff to locate, characterise, and quantify liver disease at all stages.
The vendor created ATI to help assess steatosis in real-time. The algorithm may be able to help image patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, according to the company. Other ATI features include a 2D colour technique for quickly performing exams and for taking more precise measurements. The manufacturer’s full liver analysis suite, including ATI, will be available for the Aplio i-series and Aplio a-series.
Canon is also highlighting its built-in reporting software. The optional programme supports BI-RADS and TRI-RADS to make breast and thyroid imaging easier for radiology professionals.
Mindray Medical is bringing a new family of ultrasound scanners to ECR. The MX7 and ME7 laptop-based systems are the lightest and thinnest laptops of their kind, according to the company.
The main unit of the MX7 and ME7 systems has a battery life that lasts up to eight hours. The base weighs 3kg and is only 44mm thick, which is thinner than a current-generation MacBook pro laptop. The systems can also be embedded on a trolley for mobile use.
The MX7 and ME7 devices both come with the company’s Zone Sonography Technology Plus (ZST+) technology to speed up image formation times. In addition, the product range has three different screen designs: a main screen with diagnostic information, a touch screen with operation information, and an external screen with device information.
Mindray is also previewing the Resona R9, a premium ultrasound system, at ECR 2020. Delegates can view the Resona 7 premium system, M9 portable machine, and DC-80A diagnostic system at the vendor’s booth.
Meanwhile, GE Healthcare is displaying its automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS), the Invenia ABUS 2.0. The system is designed to scan dense breast tissue as a supplement to mammography.
The fourth generation of the ABUS technology can increase cancer detection in dense breasts by 57%, according to the vendor. Its features include the cSound Imageformer as well as a reverse curve transducer specifically designed to mirror the contour of a breast.
The system comes with new viewing layouts and a digital process that better follows conventional mammography workflows.
At Siemens Healthineers, the spotlight is on Acuson Redwood, the shared-services premium scanner that was unveiled in late 2019. The device is the vendor’s first system in the segment to feature advanced applications, including contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear-wave elastography, and it comes with coherent image formation technology to help maintain B-mode image quality in complex scanning modes. It also features the company’s UltraArt universal image processing that can display image options on the touch screen.
In addition, Redwood offers a range of 13 transducers, including single crystal transducers, so that the system can be used for a broad range of clinical uses. It has a number of applications specifically for cardiac imaging, notably syngo Velocity Vector Imaging, a quantitative tool for myocardial motion, stress echocardiography with wall motion scoring analysis package, and a left ventricle operation mode.
Philips Healthcare is presenting its Epiq Elite ultrasound system. The premium ultrasound machine can be tailored to meet the needs of various medical specialties and is the company’s first solution for vascular assessment and diagnosis, according to the vendor. The Ultimate Ultrasound Solution for Vascular Assessment package combines 3D and 4D imaging, a simplified workflow, and complementary clinical tools.
Esaote is displaying the MyLabTM X8, the high-end ultrasound platform first shown at ECR 2019. Based on the recently introduced ULTRATM technology platform, the emphasis is on premium performance and more affordable systems, without compromising clinical confidence, throughput, and reliability, according to Luca Bombino, ultrasound global marketing director.
Visitors to the Hologic booth can see the Viera portable ultrasound system, a wireless, handheld device for high-resolution, point-of-care diagnostic imaging. Using Viera, radiology professionals can send images directly to smart devices as well as PACS in offices, examination rooms, and surgical suites, noted the manufacturer.
Hologic is also exhibiting the Supersonic Mach 30 breast ultrasound system. The system contains touchpad controls and an adjustable touchscreen display, and it includes ergonomic features designed to increase usability.
Samsung has introduced the RS85 Prestige, which builds on the RS85 ultrasound system. It comes with new imaging architecture and value-added features. Integrated into the system is Crystal Architecture, which combines the CrystalBeam beamformer and the CrystalPure imaging engine with the S-Vue transducer. CrystalBeam is a beamforming technology that delivers high-quality image resolution and increased uniformity of images, according to the vendor. CrystalPure comprises software with enhanced 2D image processing and colour signal processing.