Ultrasound

Efforts by the imaging industry to clear radiological devices have slipped into a narrow corridor of moderate success, as companies in June scored just 23 FDA clearances, two more than the previous month and one more than April. The pace of clearances now has drifted far below the level that led to last year’s record number of cleared products, which saw April 2004 with 36, May with 26, and June with 38.

While both multislice CT and endoscopic ultrasound can evaluate the local extension of esophageal tumors, CT can also image distant metastases in the lymph nodes, lungs, and liver with a single exam, providing superior staging of T3 and T4 cancers, according to a study from Austria presented at the 2005 European Congress of Radiology. CT is not without weaknesses, however.

Manufacturers and industry report a decline in the ultrasound market last year in the U.S. The market was down in 2004 about 7% to $950 million in equipment shipments, according to consolidated industry estimates. This decline came on the heels of a record year in 2003, during which vendors shipped equipment valued at just over $1 billion to U.S. customers. Backlogs for new units and upgrades from 2004 outdistanced sales by about 4%, indicating strength going into 2005.

An estimated 11.5 million echocardiography procedures were performed in 2004 at more than 3000 sites in the U.S., a 5% increase over 2002, according to a study conducted by IMV Medical Information Division.

Toshiba launches MR techniqueMR angiography can be accomplished without the injection of contrast media, using a technique now available from Toshiba America Medical Systems. Contrast Improved Angiography (CIA) visualizes smaller vessels with greater contrast and better separation of arterial and venous blood flows, according to the company. CIA is built on a fresh blood imaging technology that Toshiba developed seven years ago. The new technique runs on Toshiba’s Excelart Vantage system.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in June celebrated its 250,000th certification. The ARRT might reach the half-million mark sooner than expected as it gears up to allow MRI techs and sonographers to be certified without first becoming radiologic technologists.

Mobile phones outfitted with microcameras could relay more than pics and flicks. These portable devices could also broadcast ultrasound images, according to a poster presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in June.

Although ultrasound contrast agents are not yet FDA-approved for use beyond the heart, they are already helping inspire careers in academic radiology.

Medical students may not need to wait for a residency or fellowship to gain experience with ultrasound. They could become familiar with the modality long before graduation, according to a study presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in June.

Ultrasound can accurately predict elevated intracranial pressure, according to a study presented at the 2005 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting.

Siemens Medical Solutions ultrasound division has acquired Sensant, a developer of silicon-based ultrasound transducer technology, for an undisclosed price.

One of the pioneers of digital mammography, Fischer Imaging, is exiting the market. The company has signed a definitive agreement to sell Hologic the intellectual property and customer lists of its mammography business and products. The cash purchase price of $32 million includes the rights to Fisher’s SenoScan digital mammography and MammoTest stereotactic breast biopsy systems.

Clinicians working with an integrated system tend to be heavy users of medical images, accessing images as well as the report in four out of five cases, according to a report presented Friday.

A significant number of breast cancers missed by mammography in the last decade may have been misclassified as benign lesions by ultrasound in the first place, according to a study presented at the 2005 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting.

Three-dimensional Doppler ultrasound can provide a quick, reliable diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis with just one sweep in real-time, according to a study presented Monday at the 2005 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting.

Three-dimensional diagnostic ultrasound could be used for physiologic biometrics and positive individual identification, according to a study presented Monday at the AIUM meeting.

Three-D ultrasound could offer a minimally invasive alternative to hysterosalpingography and endoscopy of the fallopian tubes in apparently infertile patients, according to a study presented Monday at the 2005 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in Orlando.

War-torn countries can improve their diagnostic imaging capabilities by simply dialing the phone.

Philips releases low-cost ultrasound systemUltrasound users have a new mobile ultrasound system to consider. The HD3 is the smallest, most mobile, and easiest-to-use ultrasound system to join its portfolio, according to Philips Medical Systems. The high-definition system, designed for small office practices, hospitals, and clinics, provides gray-scale and color Doppler imaging with one-button image optimization, cineloop review, and tissue harmonic imaging. It features an adjustable flat-panel monitor and analysis packages with measurements for a variety of exams.

Siemens closes in on CTI acquisitionAs of May 4, 94% of the outstanding shares of CTI Molecular Imaging had been acquired by Siemens Medical Solutions as part of that company’s bid to acquire the Knoxville, TN, firm. Siemens expects to complete the acquisition through a merger in which all CTI shares not validly tendered will be converted into the right to receive $20.50 per share. CTI would then become a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions. CTI Molecular Imaging is a supplier of PET products and services with annual revenues above $400 million and annual income near $60 million.

Stroke patients given a thrombolytic agent along with continuous ultrasound monitoring fared better than patients who received thrombolysis alone. Accelerating the dissolution of emboli could potentially increase the duration of the critical three-hour window in which lysis must be performed, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Zonare Medical Systems has begun shipping its z.one convertible, an ultrasound system that converts from a full-featured cart-based midtier system to a compact unit.

Orbis has a new look: a graphical user interface called NICE (new interface for cool ergonomics). NICE integrates international standards, thereby laying the groundwork for expansion of the Orbis installed base beyond its stronghold in western Europe. Orbis is a suite of hospital IT applications developed by Agfa’s latest corporate acquisition GWI that operates at more than 2000 medical sites in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. The standardized interface allows individual adaptation, which optimizes the ergonomics of Orbis, according to the company. GWI demonstrated the new interface at the Information Technology for Healthcare trade show in Frankfurt in April.

The notion that stroke is a male disease may be putting women at risk. A recent study found women are less likely than men to receive certain diagnostic tests for stroke.

W. L. Gore & Associates, best known in the medical world for its fluoropolymer-based surgical products, has acquired ultrasound manufacturer Tetrad.

SonoSite will break new ground today, April 18, with the release of a handheld ultrasound system designed to compete in image quality and applications with high-end cart-based systems.

The European Congress of Radiology in March functions as an encore to the RSNA meeting held three months earlier, affording vendors the opportunity to present new products not ready for release during the Chicago meeting. It also gave vendors a chance to showcase offerings whose RSNA introduction was overshadowed by other products.

The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System for ultrasound can reliably characterize breast tumors, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Cedara Software has submitted an application to the FDA to market software that promises to help physicians differentiate benign from malignant lesions on breast sonograms.

Planar’s Dashboard hits the roadMedical displays are proliferating, appearing not just in radiology but in far-flung corners of hospitals and physician offices. To help PACS administrators manage those displays, Planar has developed the Dome Dashboard software console. This console, which is now commercially available, simplifies the centralized management, monitoring, and control of medical imaging displays. Dashboard alerts administrators when a display slips out of alignment, such as a change in the white level or drop in DICOM calibration conformance.