BOTHELL, WA - October 14, 2010 - Sonosite, Inc. (Nasdaq:SONO), the world leader and specialist in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound, today announced that its latest breakthrough in ultrasound imaging, Advanced Needle Visualization, will be featured at the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2010 Annual Meeting. This technology was first introduced in July 2010 and is a proprietary imaging algorithm that intensifies the brightness of the needle, making it clearly visible during a steep angle nerve block approach for deep targets, conditions under which the needle has previously been very difficult to image. The conference is being held in San Diego, California at the San Diego Convention Center, October 16-18, 2010
As a solution for the "lost needle phenomenon," which has been a well-known limitation in ultrasound needle imaging, anesthesiologists worldwide have quickly responded to Advanced Needle Visualization as a key tool for saving time, and improving patient safety. The algorithm enables physicians to increase confidence through visualization of the needle, which may result in less procedure time while maintaining fully-diagnostic image quality from near to far field, preserving anatomical detail.
"After I saw a demonstration of Advanced Needle Visualization, I bought it on the spot," said Curtis R. Holbrook, MD, RPh, MBA, Anesthesiologist, Texas Health Resources/Wilson N. Jones Medical Center, Sherman, Texas. "Our department initially gravitated toward implementing ultrasound for needle guidance procedures because it improves safety. Advanced Needle Visualization is a major advancement in patient safety because it helps clinicians prevent nerve damage during nerve blocks. To me, it’s a safety feature that should become the standard of care. There is no doubt that Advanced Needle Visualization is an incredible step forward in imaging and once people see it, they will be sold."
"With Advanced Needle Visualization, I could see the needle perfectly and better than with the aid of an echogenic needle," said Astrid Ursula Behr, MD, Anesthesiologist, Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Padova, Italy. "In fact, I experimented with the technology by turning the algorithm on and off and it was truly incredible to observe how the needle appeared and disappeared. I am convinced that the Advanced Needle Visualization solves a lot of our difficulties with needle visibility."
Advanced Needle Visualization is an exclusive technology that is now available as a software upgrade for Sonosite’s M-Turbo® and S Series™ ultrasound product lines. This breakthrough technology is currently offered on Sonosite’s HFL50 and HFL38 transducers for peripheral nerve block, musculoskeletal and small parts applications.
Anesthesiologists are invited to experience a demonstration of the Advanced Needle Visualization by visiting Sonosite at booth #1337 at ASA.
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology and impedance cardiography equipment. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by ten subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. Sonosite’s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care.
1 Miller, Gabriel. "Study Ranks Needle Visibility Under Ultrasound." Pain Medicine News. Mar. 2010. Web. www.painmedicinenews.com.
As a solution for the "lost needle phenomenon," which has been a well-known limitation in ultrasound needle imaging, anesthesiologists worldwide have quickly responded to Advanced Needle Visualization as a key tool for saving time, and improving patient safety. The algorithm enables physicians to increase confidence through visualization of the needle, which may result in less procedure time while maintaining fully-diagnostic image quality from near to far field, preserving anatomical detail.
"After I saw a demonstration of Advanced Needle Visualization, I bought it on the spot," said Curtis R. Holbrook, MD, RPh, MBA, Anesthesiologist, Texas Health Resources/Wilson N. Jones Medical Center, Sherman, Texas. "Our department initially gravitated toward implementing ultrasound for needle guidance procedures because it improves safety. Advanced Needle Visualization is a major advancement in patient safety because it helps clinicians prevent nerve damage during nerve blocks. To me, it’s a safety feature that should become the standard of care. There is no doubt that Advanced Needle Visualization is an incredible step forward in imaging and once people see it, they will be sold."
"With Advanced Needle Visualization, I could see the needle perfectly and better than with the aid of an echogenic needle," said Astrid Ursula Behr, MD, Anesthesiologist, Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Padova, Italy. "In fact, I experimented with the technology by turning the algorithm on and off and it was truly incredible to observe how the needle appeared and disappeared. I am convinced that the Advanced Needle Visualization solves a lot of our difficulties with needle visibility."
Advanced Needle Visualization is an exclusive technology that is now available as a software upgrade for Sonosite’s M-Turbo® and S Series™ ultrasound product lines. This breakthrough technology is currently offered on Sonosite’s HFL50 and HFL38 transducers for peripheral nerve block, musculoskeletal and small parts applications.
Anesthesiologists are invited to experience a demonstration of the Advanced Needle Visualization by visiting Sonosite at booth #1337 at ASA.
About Sonosite
Sonosite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com) is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology and impedance cardiography equipment. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by ten subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. Sonosite’s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care.
1 Miller, Gabriel. "Study Ranks Needle Visibility Under Ultrasound." Pain Medicine News. Mar. 2010. Web. www.painmedicinenews.com.