Siemens Showcases World’s First Wireless Ultrasound
System at RSNA 2012
Wireless
transducer technology will expand use of ultrasound into a variety of clinical
settings
Press
Release: Siemens Healthcare – Mon, Nov 26, 2012 10:00 AM EST
At the 98th Scientific
Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
(RSNA), November 25-30 in Chicago, Siemens Healthcare (Booth #831, East
Building/Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, Hall D) is introducing the ACUSON
Freestyle™ ultrasound system that features wireless transducers, eliminating
the impediment of cables in ultrasound imaging. To enable this pioneering
technology, the system brings to the market a large number of innovations,
including acoustics, system architecture, radio design, miniaturization, and
image processing. The ACUSON Freestyle system will expand ultrasound’s use in
interventional and therapeutic applications, where the technology provides
numerous workflow and image quality advantages. The development of wireless
ultrasound is in line with the objectives of the Healthcare Sector’s global
initiative Agenda 2013 – specifically in the areas of innovation and
accessibility.
For image
acquisition and processing, the ACUSON Freestyle system employs advanced
synthetic aperture imaging technology, an integration of proprietary hardware
and software that was specifically developed for the wireless signal
transmission of full-resolution digital image data at very high data rates.
Focusing on each pixel in the image, this method produces excellent image
quality throughout the field of view. This design reduces the transducer’s
power requirements, increasing battery life. Wireless real-time ultrasound data
transmission is further enabled through the proprietary development of a novel
ultra-wideband radio technology, which, operating at a high frequency of 7.8
Gigahertz, is not susceptible to interference with other electronic equipment.
Three
wireless transducers are available for the ACUSON Freestyle system, covering a
range of general imaging, vascular, and high-frequency applications such as
musculoskeletal and nerve imaging. The user can operate the transducers up to
three meters away from the system, which includes an ergonomic interface that
enables remote control of scanning parameters from within the sterile field.
The ACUSON Freestyle system has a 38-centimeter, high-resolution LED display.
The system console can be mounted easily on a lightweight cart and also
operates on battery power.
The products
mentioned here are not commercially available in all countries. Due to
regulatory reasons the future availability in any country cannot be guaranteed.
Further details are available from the local Siemens organizations.
The transducer's rechargeable battery lasts for about 90 minutes of total scanning time. The system also comes with a spare battery pack that recharges at a charging station on the back of the system while the other one's working.
The development of the Acuson Freestyle was considered as a "huge technical
challenge" as ultrasound is a real-time modality where the device must
process a large amount of data fed from the transducer. The developers also had
to make sure the wireless signals transmitted from the device wouldn't
interfere with signals coming from all the other wireless systems in the
hospital.
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