Emerging Innovations in Ultrasound Imaging Landscape

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The use of ultrasound systems for medical imaging is widespread since decades for a variety of medical applications. These imaging solutions are of perennial importance for achieving accurate diagnosis and helping reach the most appropriate treatment regime and hence enhancing the healthcare outcomes.  However, the evolution of medical technology and diagnosis has invited constant pressure on medical diagnostic manufacturing companies to increase the intensity of innovation, regularly introduce advanced features, reduce the overall operational costs and improve clinical workflow. Powered by integration of new applications and rapid advances in microelectronics and sensors, ultrasound imaging systems have evolved from cart-based, single-use systems into high portable, versatile and multi-use diagnostic systems.

Philips Healthcare has been a leading force in ultrasound imaging systems which are being widely adopted by a broad range of clinical applications such as cardiology, critical care, liver & breast imaging, and interventional cardiology. Philips constantly makes technological advances in its ultrasound solutions suitewhich comprises mainly of EPIQ and Affiniti platforms.

At ULTRAFEST 2017, Mumbai, India Philips Healthcare India recently announced a host of new advanced features to its existing ultrasound platforms.  ULTRAFEST is a complete ultrasound event created as a teaching tool for residents and practicing consultants who are looking to enhancing their skills and update their knowledge.  The event includes lectures, resident contests, poster and paper presentations, quiz contests, and live demos and workshops focusing on recent trends and advances in ultrasound technology. Philips has introduced the following advanced features to meet the challenges of today’s most demanding practices:

Affiniti Continuum 1.0 upgrade

Affiniti Continuum 1.0 offers a suite of features and capabilities to further elevate clinical solutions and exam workflow.

New MaxVue high-definition display– Allows more accurate visualization of anatomy with1,179,648 more image pixels as compared to the standard 4:3 display format mode. MaxVue enhances ultrasound viewing during interventional procedures and provides 38% more viewing area.

Enhanced active native data– Allows post-processing of many exam parameters to finalize images before transfer to PACS

ElastPQ enhancements- Helps to obtain tissue stiffness values of liver on the area of interest through ultrasound shear wave elastography which provides a noninvasive, reproducible, and easily performed method to measure tissue stiffness.

Enhanced image fusion and navigation– Image fusion combines the inherent advantages of multimodality imaging and Anatomical Intelligence Ultrasound (AIS) directly on the ultrasound system providing more diagnostic power to the clinician while reducing radiation burden and maximizing throughput in the department.

EPIQ Evolution 3.0

EPIQ Evolution 3.0 offers a suite of features and capabilities that provides a comprehensive ultrasound solution for liver disease assessment, treatment, and monitoring. New features include:

  • New MaxVue High Definition Imaging
  • Enhanced ElastPQ shear wave elastography for definitive tissue stiffness data
  • Pure Wave transducer technology for exceptional liver imaging
  • Enhanced Active Native Data
  • Enhanced Fusion and Navigation for fast clinical decisions and treatment planning

Innosight

Philips Innosight offers the unique advantage of conducting a quick, routine ultrasound scan at home, clinics, hospitals, office and also on immobilized patients easily. InnoSight is an affordable, portable ultrasound system with capabilities such as application-specific analysis packages, annotations, and tissue-specific presets.  It has additional features such battery back-up, multi-purpose kickstand and one-touch image optimization. This is another great product in Philips Healthcare’s portfolio of fully integrated data-driven connected health technology products.

All these upgrades and innovation to the ultrasound system technology by Philips Healthcare is designed to meet changing healthcare needs and continuously challenge how the industry defines ultrasound technology. The diagnostic landscape certainly needs such rapid advances to meet the growing demand of affordable and quality care.