Siemens Healthcare introduces the 1.2 release of the ACUSON SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system during the 2009 European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC), December 9 – 12, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. The ACUSON SC2000 system, Release 1.2 represents the latest in the revolution of echocardiography since its introduction in 2008 Building upon Siemens superior architecture and strengthened by Siemens patented technologies, this new release of the ACUSON SC2000 system features unique technologies and applications that improve diagnostic confidence and workflow in echocardiography to deliver vastly more diagnostic information than today’s conventional systems.
Volume echocardiography is powerful, high-precision and fast,” said Dr. Norbert Gaus, CEO of the Business Unit Ultrasound, Siemens Healthcare. “While current approaches to traditional 3D echocardiography require four to seven heart cycles to stitch together a volume of the heart, our true Echo in a Heartbeat technology delivers precise, non-stitched, real-time full-volume imaging in one single heart cycle.” By producing a full-volume view of the heart in one single beat withoutstitching or gating, the technique offers comprehensive data to improve diagnostic confidence and accelerate clinical workflow.
The ACUSON SC2000 system delivers superior volume imaging that can be easily integrated into a routine adult echocardiography scan. The non-stitched, real-time full-volume imaging provides wider access to patients and captures true physiologic information including color flow and accurate volume quantification for the left ventricle and right ventricle. In addition, the system features the Rapid Stress volume stress echo application, with full-volume acquisition in one single heartbeat per stage and auto-extraction of reference planes for comparison to improve the volume stress workflow and making it the only volume stress echo solution for patients with arrhythmia. This results in faster acquisition time and a comprehensive review of all wall segments in one single capture, leading to potentially improved accuracy and time savings.
New to the ACUSON SC2000 system is the unique IN Focus coherent imaging technology. Without the need to continuously set and select a given location of best focus, IN Focus technology sharpens the full-field image at all times – without sacrificing frame rate. The technology delivers continuous full-field transmit focusing and uses the power of 64 receive beams, maximizing the imaging information rate to better resolve cardiac structure and motion for superior diagnosticimaging.
An innovative approach to workflow enhancement are eSieScan Workflow Protocols. They streamline exam workflows, both on the user level and in the entire lab, bringing both highest reproducibility and quality standards to the volume imaging workflow. eSieScan protocols can be customized and re-ordered based on user or department requirements, dramatically reducing the need for user interaction and the number of keystrokes during the imaging process.
Knowledge-based Workflow Applications
Siemens will also be showcasing on various platforms its unique knowledge-based workflow applications, which are designed to automate measurements for rapid, accurate and reproducible results syngo Velocity Vector Imaging (VVI) technology uses individual vectors to display direction and relative velocity of tissue from frame to frame to instantaneously measure motion at any point in the cardiac cycle. This unique visual representation of cardiac contraction-relaxation mechanics allows easy gathering of information for a variety of applications, including rapid assessment of ventricular synergy in heart failure.
Using sophisticated system intelligence based on learned pattern recognition technology, syngo Auto Left Heart (Auto LH) technology automatically generates left atrial and left ventricular volumes and ejection fractions rapidly and reliably.
syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP)* provides physicians with the capability to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). It allows physicians to provide real-time feedback on the state of their patient's cardiovascular system, allowing for proactive prevention against cardiovascular disease which causes an estimated 16.7 million deaths globally each year.
These clinical applications and more will be demonstrated on the ACUSON S2000 Cardiovascular (CV) ultrasound system, a comprehensive dedicated cardiovascular system for pediatric, neonatal, vascular, and OR environments. From image acquisition to application and review, the ACUSON S2000 CV system offers individually customizable protocols for maximum user flexibility to further streamline echocardiography workflow and accelerate cardiovascular throughput. The system’s open architecture and transducer compatibility across multiple Siemens ultrasound platforms provides investment protection to new and existing Siemens customers.
With the ACUSON X300 ultrasound system, Premium Edition (PE), Siemens offers advanced diagnostic tools to meet all clinical challenges in the daily clinical routine. The system delivers excellent imaging performance in a compact, color Doppler system over a wide range of clinical applications and advanced features. The system offers contrast agent imaging**, fourSight 4D imaging technology, and integrated stress echo. Anatomical M-mode, DTI Doppler Tissue Imaging technology, and TEE Imaging – including 3D imaging – complete the package.
This feature should be utilized according to the ASE Consensus Statement "Use of Carotid Ultrasound to Identify Subclinical Vascular Disease and Evaluate Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Consensus Statement from the American Society of Echocardiography Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Task Force, Endorsed by the Society for Vascular Medicine”
** At the time of publication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared ultrasound contrast agents only for use in LVO. Check current regulations for the country in which you are using this system for contrast agent clearance.
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2009 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 11.9 billion euros and profit of around 1.5 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare .
