April 15, 2011 – Two new ultrasound systems have been launched and are available for sale in the United States. The Voluson S-Series, from GE Healthcare, helps bring imaging technology to a broad group of OB/GYN offices and departments.
The Voluson S8 and Voluson S6 help deliver exceptional image quality, innovative assessment tools supporting more detailed patient evaluations and ergonomic achievements that make the system easy to use and transport. These features can help OB/GYN offices provide enhanced patient care, promote overall efficiency and grow their practice. Both systems also offer additional capabilities for advanced assessment to support complex patient cases such as those associated with reproductive medicine. As validated Healthymagination products, both Voluson S-Series systems help clinicians improve quality and reduce costs through the opportunity to achieve significant time savings and increased accuracy of results.
The systems offer a new group of OB/GYN offices and departments a mix of advanced imaging capabilities and workflow efficiencies in a budget-friendly system. Hardware, software and innovative probes work together to provide exceptional 2-D image quality as well as 3-D/4-D capabilities. System intelligence combined with high-end probe technology enables easy probe placement, facilitating high-quality images that engender diagnostic confidence among clinicians. A variety of easy-to-learn workflow features such as automation and auto optimization tools can help busy offices work more efficiently while maintaining high quality.
The systems offer a variety of semi-automated tools and features that help clinicians expand their capabilities and services to patients.
• SonoNT (Sonography-based Nuchal Translucency) is the first semi-automated tool to provide quantitative NT measurements as early as 11 weeks of gestation.
• SonoAVC follicle (Sonography-based Automated Volume Count) automatically calculates the number and volume of hypoechoic structures from a user-defined region of interest to help speed follicular assessments and enhance exam quality. Since this tool enables less user-to-user variability, clinicians can be confident that subsequent exams will provide consistent results.
• SonoVCADlabor automatically documents second-stage labor progression, helping clinicians evaluate patients during this critical stage of labor. Clinicians can measure fetal head progression, rotation and direction and have more information in case intervention is necessary.
The Voluson S8 offers additional clinical capabilities that enable detailed fetal cardiac assessment through a suite of advanced fetal echo imaging technologies. Using the system, clinicians can view 3-D images of the heart in motion as well as an entire fetal heart cycle, vital information that can facilitate detection of heart abnormalities in utero. Utilizing SonoVCADheart (Sonography-based Volume Computer Aided Display heart), the touch of a single button provides an immediate view of the six recommended volumetric images of the fetal heart, helping clinicians conduct comprehensive exams. Anatomical M-Mode helps improve the accuracy of arrhythmia assessments and other cardiac measurements.
Designed with the operator in mind, the series follows the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers’ (SDMS) ergonomic guidelines. Highlights include a reduced number of keystrokes and manipulations per exam, user adjustable monitor and console height and angle, and compact size which helps make the unit easy to transport and small enough to slide under a bed.
For more information: www.gehealthcare.com, www.voluson.com