Ultrasound Machine Reviews, news, and advice

Washington Post column slams American Medical Association

In a Washington Post column, Regina Herzlinger addresses the AMA and the struggles of physicians today, stating the American Medical Association isn't doing enough to protect, lobby for, and back physicians and instead taking the wrong course. It's an interesting read, The AMA wrote a letter to the editor in response here. I thought it would be interesting in light of the DRA's impact on Physician's reimbursement and the new struggles of today's physician.

 

Quoted from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072401850.html:

Regina E. Herzlinger - Who Killed U.S. Medicine? - washingtonpost.com

As Doctors Lose Income and Autonomy, Their Advocate Fights the Wrong Battles

By Regina E. Herzlinger

America's physicians are the most trusted and valuable resources in our health-care system. Yet doctors' professionalism and incomes have taken a terrible beating recently. The American Medical Association, which received $286 million in revenue last year to protect the profession, has served physicians poorly.

Physician incomes, when adjusted for inflation, declined 7 percent from 1995 to 2003, while those of professional and technical workers rose. But unlike other professionals -- lawyers, architects, authors and economists -- doctors' work is dictated by the policies of insurers and governments. Increasingly, independent physicians, accountable only to their patients and the Hippocratic oath, have been replaced by salaried doctors who are accountable to the hospitals or insurers that employ them. Salaried physicians are closely policed for productivity, leading to ever-shorter and more numerous appointments per day.

Physicians,American Medical Association,Physician reimbursement,DRA,AMA Physician

Ultrasound Price Alert: GE Voluson i portable 4D ultrasound and GE Logiq 3 Expert

The very popular and hard-to-find GE Voluson i portable 4D ultrasound is available at GPS Medical. Additionally, there is a price alert on a demo unit of the (also popular) GE Logiq 3 Expert BT06 ultrasound with shared services capabilities. This is one of the more popular veterinary ultrasounds on the market, but also perfect for smaller offices in which ultrasound is not the primary function.

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Brief ultrasound exams prove valuable in cardiac care

The American Journal of Cardiology July 15 issue reports on a study done by Scripps Mercy Hospital and the University of California validating the use of a limited ultrasound study in a point-of-care facility such as an outpatient clinic. The study evaluated the utility of the CLUE (Cardiovascular limited ultrasound examination) that detects: carotid atherorma, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. They used a compact ultrasound for the study, such as a Logiqbook XP, Sonosite Titan, SonoSite Micromaxx, GE Logiq e, or GE Logiq i portable ultrasound units. An abstract of the journal article is copied below. click here for a link to the abstract.:

 

Value of a Cardiovascular Limited Ultrasound Examination Using a Hand-Carried Ultrasound Device on Clinical Management in an Outpatient Medical Clinic

Bruce J. Kimura MDa, , , David J. Shaw MDa, Donna L. Agan EdDa, Stan A. Amundson MDa, Andrew C. Ping MDa and Anthony N. DeMaria MDb
aScripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, California
bUniversity of California, San Diego, California.
Received 16 January 2007;  revised 20 February 2007;  accepted 20 February 2007.  Available online 29 May 2007.

Limited ultrasound imaging studies using hand-carried ultrasound devices at the point of care have individually shown feasibility in the detection of carotid atheroma, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. To evaluate the utility of a specific cardiovascular limited ultrasound examination (CLUE) designed to detect all 4 entities in patients seen in an outpatient medical clinic. One hundred ninety-six patients underwent coronary heart disease risk stratification by National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines and CLUE with a hand-carried ultrasound device with cardiac and vascular transducers. CLUE included brief imaging of the carotid arteries, the heart, and the intra-abdominal aorta. The prevalence of abnormal CLUE results and their effect on clinical management were tabulated and stratified by coronary heart disease risk class. Patient age (mean ± SD) was 56 ± 14 years (range 22 to 95), and 32.1% were at low risk, 30.6% at intermediate risk, and 37.2% at high risk. Of the 196 CLUEs, abnormalities were present in 37.2% (32.7% had carotid atheroma, 3.1% had systolic dysfunction, 6.1% had left atrial enlargement, and 1.0% had abdominal aortic aneurysm) and were related to age, increasing coronary heart disease risk, and male gender. Overall, CLUE resulted in new management recommendations in 20% of patients, primarily in coronary heart disease risk prevention. In patients at intermediate risk or aged 60 to 69 years, CLUE resulted in new recommendations in 39% and 37%, respectively. In conclusion, when applied to a clinic population, brief cardiovascular ultrasound exams frequently demonstrate unsuspected findings that can change management.

Compact Ultrasound,Portable ultrasound,hand carried ultrasound,cardiac ultrasound,CLUE,cardiology screening,carotid atheroma,left ventricular systolic dysfunction,left atrial enlargement,abdominal aortic aneurysm,AAA screening,cardiovascular limited ultrasound examination

Mayo Clinic - Real-time 3-D ultrasound successful in nerve blocks

Physicians at the Mayo Clinic found that using Real-time 3D ultrasound (4D ultrasound) to assist in peripheral regional nerve blocks can be very successful. The goal is to reduce the amount of general anesthesia used and instead using ultrasound to guide physicians in placing a catheter filled with a local anesthetic.

 

Quoted from http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-jax/4140.html:

Mayo Clinic - Real-time 3-D ultrasound technique used to help physicians numb individual nerves before surgery, speeding patient recovery

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayo Clinic physicians have adapted real-time 3-D ultrasound imaging devices -- including one designed to look at an infant's heart -- so that they can watch as they use a needle filled with anesthetic to numb individual nerves located inches under the skin. In this way, they can quickly block nerve function in selected areas of the body prior to surgery, an advance that may spare patients from use of general anesthesia and sends them home faster and with less need for pain medication.

Mayo anesthesiologists have demonstrated the benefits of real-time 3-D ultrasound in nerve blockade in more than 150 surgeries of varied types. Their presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals have informed other physicians worldwide into how this next-era ultrasound imaging technology may assist in peripheral nerve block placement -- the technique of disabling targeted nerves so that a patient doesn't feel pain from surgery. For example, their latest case study, reported in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, describes how they used 3-D ultrasound to find the sciatic nerve behind the thigh of a woman who needed major reconstructive surgery on her foot. Using the imaging technique to help physicians place a catheter filled with local anesthetic next to the nerve, they numbed it to block pain signals from being transmitted to the brain of the patient, who was sedated.

When the brain doesn't know surgery is under way because the nerve is inactivated, it doesn't mount the kind of systematic pain response that keeps patients medicated and in their beds, says anesthesiologist Steven Clendenen, M.D., who helped develop use of the technique with Neil Feinglass, M.D., and other anesthesiologists at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

"Now we can find the nerve we want in real-time 3-D, guide our needle right next to it, then watch as anesthesia is released and surrounds the nerve, inactivating it," Dr. Feinglass says. "No one thought peripheral regional blocks could be done in real-time 3-D, and we believe we are the first in the world to really do it."

Most people are familiar with traditional 3-D ultrasound probes that can see a growing fetus and an adult's beating adult heart using waves that penetrate deep within body tissue and reflect back to form an image. But these devices cannot be used to picture nerves, because nerves are often too close to the surface of the skin and too shallow for the sound waves generated to form an image.

Dr. Feinglass, who specializes in cardiac anesthesiology, and Dr. Clendenen, an expert on regional pain blocks, thought of using smaller ultrasonic probes to image nerves. "We thought nerves could be very ultrasound friendly because they run in a linear plane and are wrapped in a sheath of fat, so they easily reflect back ultrasound waves," says Dr. Clendenen.

3D Ultrasound,4D ultrasound,anesthesia,anesthesia ultrasound,ultrasound and anesthesiology,anesthesiologists ultrasound,physician ultrasound

Price Alert: SonoSite Micromaxx and GE Logiq 400 Pro CL ultrasounds

Special pricing on SonoSite Micromaxx ultrasound and GE Logiq 400 CL Pro ultrasounds while supplies last. The MicroMaxx special pricing includes an L25 linear transducer and other probes  are available.

Micromaxx pricing has only recently dropped and it is still hard to get on the market and in high demand. The Micromaxx is popular for anesthesiologists, emergency rooms, physicians, family practices and many point of care facilities in which a fast-booting ultrasound with good image quality is necessary.

The Logiq 400 Pro CL is an old-time standard in the OB/GYN ultrasound market and is known as one of the more reliable color Doppler ultrasound systems for obstetrics and gynecology. The system is capable of all modalites except cardiac and has very good image quality. Click here for pricing and availability.

SonoSite,Micromaxx,SonoSite Micromaxx,Logiq 400CL,Logiq ultrasound,GE Ultrasound,Sonosite Ultrasound

SonoSite raising cash for acquisitions

The Seattle Times reports that ultrasound manufacturer SonoSite is looking to raise $150 million from investors to fund acquisitions. This comes just two days after Barron's online printed an article that all but predicted doom for SonoSite, stating that the Logiq e and other GE products will eventually crush SonoSite and its market-leading portable ultrasound share. The article from Barron's doesn't quite get it, but it does make one think: how long will GE and other manufacturer's let SonoSite own its niche? Yes, SonoSite knows its customers better, but a long-term plan must be put in place for survival. If SonoSite can apply its great customer focus with better R&D, it can hang on for sure. They're a cool company, but the limited product line and narrow focus scares investors. And that can spell death... particularly when seen from an investor's 10,000-foot view. SonoSite might be better off looking at expanding its marketing efforts and sales force... SonoSite's got some of the best marketing stuff out there, but is it doing as good ajob of announcing it to the world as GE is?

We have yet to see the unanounced SonoSite Maxx product, which is slated to be more competitive with the GE Logiq portable ultrasound machines. The SonoSite Maxx is described as a cross between a SonoSite Micromaxx and Philips HDI 5000 ultrasound. It'll have full cardiac capabilities, including TEE (no phased array probe, still the convex), but no other details have been released. I'm curious as to whether they'll stick with the same basic user interface or if they'll chase the more complex interface and tweaking capabilities of the GE products.

Quoted from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003782081_SonoSite10.html:

Business & Technology | SonoSite collecting cash to go shopping | Seattle Times Newspaper

SonoSite collecting cash to go shopping

By Ángel González

Seattle Times business reporter

Eager to embark on a revenue-boosting buying spree, SonoSite seeks to build itself a war chest.

The Bothell portable ultrasound-equipment maker said Monday it intends to raise $150 million from investors, mostly to fund acquisitions.

Investors underwriting the effort would be able to buy up to an additional $22.5 million in convertible notes, the company said in a statement.

SonoSite ultrasound,SonoSite Maxx,GE ultrasound,Portable Ultrasound,Compact ultrasound,diagnostic ultrasound

ZONARE Medical Systems Receives Frost & Sullivan Medical Imaging Product Innovation of the Year Award

Portable Ultrasound manufacturer Zonare received a design award from Frost and Sullivan for product innovation.

That's great. Now go to the Zonare website and, just for fun, try to buy one of their systems...it sure is hard to find anything stating how to actually purchase one, get a brochure, or get anything but investor or technology information.

Quoted from http://www.medicalimagingmag.com/press_release.asp?id=10085427:

ZONARE Medical Systems Receives Frost & Sullivan Medical Imaging Product Innovation of the Year Award | Press Release | Medical Imaging

ZONARE Medical Systems Receives Frost & Sullivan Medical Imaging Product Innovation of the Year Award

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- ZONARE Medical Systems, a provider of premium ultrasound systems, announced it has been given the Frost & Sullivan Medical Imaging Product Innovation of the Year Award for its z.one ultrasound system. The Innovation of the Year Award is presented to the company that has demonstrated excellence in product innovation and performance within their industry. The award was recently announced at a ceremony in Singapore.

Zonare,portable ultrasound,compact ultrasound,mobile ultrasound,Zonare ultrasound,Z.one

Special price alert: '07 GE Logiq 7 with 4D, shared services, LCD flat panel. Only one available.

GPS Medical is offering a "BT07" GE Logiq 7 with 4D and LCD Flat-Panel Monitor, shared services (all applications) with CrossXBeam and SRI for $62,000 with a 4D transducer and two standard 2D transducers (such as a convex and linear or sector). This is the latest version of software for this machine, released in 2007. They only have one GE Logiq 7 System at this price and it won't last until the end of the week. You can read about the system here on the GPS Medical website, where we reviewed the Logiq 7 and its excellent 4D capabilities. The next-best shared-services ultrasound with 4D will run you more than $100,000 on the used market, and you'll have a lot of trouble finding it. This system is ideal for the family physician, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine doctor, and many others.  This is a demo ultrasound unit and is on special until it is sold. Contact GPS Medical for the GE Logiq 7 ultrasound with 4D and LCD monitor if you're interested. This system will probably be gone by Wednesday.

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SonoSite Countersues GE with ultrasound Patent infringement lawsuit

Yesterday ultrasound manufacturer SonoSite stated it is filing a patent infringment lawsuit against GE and some of its affiliates, just 6 weeks after GE filed a patent infringment suit against SonoSite. SonoSite claims that GE's ultrasound patent lawsuit is without merit and filed this counterclaim against GE in a Wisconsin district court. SonoSite is stating that GE infringes on two of its ultrasound patents. Following is the press release from SonoSite:

SonoSite Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against GE

BOTHELL, WA - July 5, 2007– SonoSite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader in hand carried ultrasound, announced it is filing today a patent infringement lawsuit against General Electric Company (GE) and certain of its affiliates in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.  The complaint is filed as a counterclaim to the complaint GE and its affiliates filed against SonoSite on May 15, 2007 in the same court.  In parallel, SonoSite is filing its answer to the complaint denying all of GE’s claims and alleging that the asserted patents are either invalid, not infringed, or both.   In its counterclaim complaint, SonoSite asserts that GE and its affiliated companies infringe SonoSite’s U.S. Patent Nos. 6,569,101, “Medical Diagnostic Instrument with ECG Module, Authorization Mechanism and Methods of Use,” and 5,817,024, “Handheld Ultrasonic Diagnostic Instrument with Digital Beamformer,” through their sales of ultrasound products, including GE’s compact ultrasound systems.  SonoSite’s patents cover various core ultrasound related technologies.  The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages and a court injunction against future infringement by GE and its affiliates. “After conducting a review, we believe that GE’s claims of patent infringement are without merit,” said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite President and CEO. “Further, we believe that GE's ultrasound systems, including its recently introduced compact products, are infringing SonoSite patents on key, fundamental ultrasound innovations.  We intend to vigorously assert our rights.”

SonoSite,GE,Ultrasound,Patent infringement,GE Ultrasound,Diagnostic Ultrasound,SonoSite Ultrasound,Titan,Micromaxx

News from India: "Ultrasound on wheels the new killer"

The Lucknow Newsline in India reports that mobile ultrasound companies in India are providing sex-determination scans to decide whether to keep the baby or perform feticide if it's a girl. The practice, called "female foeticide" or "feticide", is defined as an act that causes death to a fetus. The article states that the mobile companies are difficult to catch because they have no schedule nor fixed location or doctor. In addition, occasionally the person performing the scans is untrained.

Quoted from http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=244323:

Ultrasound on wheels the new killer

Ultrasound on wheels the new killer

Express News Service

Lucknow, July 4: Mobile vans carrying ultrasound machines have become the new threat for the girl child. Hard to trace and monitor, these vans are a real hurdle for the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in the state. A study by an NGO fighting against female foeticide revealed that these mobile ultrasound machines are a rage in districts like Baghpat, where the sex ratio is the lowest. And since these vans have no fixed schedule and no doctor, they are all the more difficult to catch.

mobile ultrasound,female foeticide