Clarius Introduces Ultra-High Frequency Handheld Ultrasound for Superficial Applications

Ultrasound developer Clarius Mobile Health announced this week the launch of its new Clarius L20HD, a system designed for medical practitioners in a variety of fields.

According to company representatives, the handheld system provides ultra-high definition medical imaging for superficial applications. It can be applied in musculoskeletal services, rheumatology, podiatry, plastic and microsurgery, pediatric anesthesia, and line placement. It is designed, they said, to replace cart-based systems that are currently used to visualize shallow anatomy.

“Every medical practitioner should have access to high definition imaging to improve confidence in diagnoses and accuracy in guided procedures,” said Laurent Pelissier, Clarius chief executive officer. “We’ve miniaturized ultrasound, without compromising image quality."

The system, which has 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, as well as the CE Mark from the European Union, offers a frequency range of 8-to-20 MHz, enabling images down to 4 cm, and it features eight octal beams and 192 elements that provide for faster frame rates.

In addition, company officials said, it is compatible with both iOS and Android systems and can deliver images that are equivalent in quality to those captured by cart-based system, according to company details. Artificial intelligence can also adjust imaging parameters based on scanning application in real time.

The system retails for $6,900 in the United States compared to the $35,000 price tag for a cart-based system.