Wednesday, July 14, 2010

GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics Relaunches Optison™ Contrast Agent

PRINCETON, NJ – July 12, 2010 – GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics today announced the market reintroduction of Optison™ (Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres Injectable Suspension, USP), a diagnostic ultrasound contrast agent for use in select echocardiograms. Optison is indicated for use in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricle and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders. The safety and efficacy of Optison with exercise stress or pharmacologic stress testing have not been established.

"We are excited to announce the reintroduction of Optison,” said Kimberly Wolf, Regional Marketing Leader - Americas, GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics. “The product gives medical professionals an option in ultrasound contrast agents when they need to increase diagnostic accuracy by converting non-diagnostic echo studies to diagnostic images.”

Optison is an FDA-approved ultrasound contrast agent available in a ready-to-use formulation, providing the benefits of fast preparation time, ease of use, portability, and flexible dosing. The recommended dose is 0.5 mL injected into a peripheral vein. This may be repeated for further contrast enhancement as needed, but the maximum total dose should not exceed 8.7 mL in any one patient study.

source: GE Healthcare

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Association Between Endoscopic Ultrasound Evaluation And Improved Outcomes In Pancreatic Cancer Patients

A new study has found that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer, possibly due to the detection of earlier cancers and improved stage-appropriate management, including more selective performance of curative intent surgery. This is the first study to analyze a large population-based cancer registry and demonstrate that EUS evaluation is associated with improved pancreatic cancer survival. The study appears in the July issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

source: Medical News Today

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Siemens Introduces ACUSON S2000 Ultrasound System, Release 2.0

Malvern, Pa., July 7, 2010 – Siemens Healthcare announces availability of the 2.0 release of its ACUSON S2000™ ultrasound system, a premium performance platform that features powerful imaging performance and penetrating insights to achieve sound diagnosis. The multi-specialty system offers advanced applications, such as Virtual Touch™ HD* technology, the second generation implementation of Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse (ARFI)* imaging, as well as Cadence™ contrast agent technology** and the most comprehensive 3D/4D imaging capabilities to provide penetrating insight into complex anatomy.

The ACUSON S2000 system represents the pinnacle of innovative technology, workflow-enhancing clinical applications, and state-of-the-art ergonomic design. Covering the entire continuum of care from screening to diagnosis to therapy and follow-up, the new ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system features applications across general imaging, including obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), as well as vascular and cardiac imaging.

Next Generation Tissue Strain Analytics
Similar to a physical palpation exam, tissue strain analytics adds an independent parameter to the existing morphological diagnostic process by interrogating and measuring the mechanical strain properties or stiffness of tissue often correlated with pathology. Siemens’ implementation of ARFI, Virtual Touch™ Tissue Imaging and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification, have been further optimized on the ACUSON S2000 2.0 ultrasound system to perform in high definition (HD).

source: Siemens Medical