There are two forces at work in every market: the status quo and the disruptors. In ultrasound technology, the status quo is represented by long-standing tech leaders, such as GE, Philips, Siemens, and Canon. But the disruptors are more difficult to identify — largely because they’re often acquired by more established players. The ultrasound tech … Continue reading
When hospitals and healthcare facilities invest in medical technology, they expect it to work right out of the box. When equipment doesn’t work, it reflects poorly on both manufacturer and vendor. Clinicians and patients trust the reputation of brand name manufacturers, but ultrasound probes are delicate. Even fresh from the factory, probes can have defects … Continue reading
“Ergonomics” was the business buzzword of the late 1990s. The ergonomic boom gave the corporate world everything from keyboard wrist supports to office chairs that encouraged proper posture. The ergonomics craze may have died down in corporate offices, but it remains a focal point in healthcare facilities. Why does ergonomics matter? It plays a big … Continue reading
Every patient’s healthcare journey is different, but the amount of data generated at every point of care is growing for each and every patient. Electronic health records (EHR) are the modern standard for collecting disparate patient data and aggregating it into one comprehensive picture of each patient’s health. EHR integration is critical at the point … Continue reading
Ultrasound is generally a noninvasive procedure. In most cases, probes are applied externally, and even contrast-enhanced ultrasound — which requires an injection of microbubbles — is relatively painless. Still, there’s a constant push to make procedures simpler and easier on patients, which is why scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) set out to … Continue reading
The evolution of technology is almost always synonymous with a shrinking device footprint. Monolithic computers from the 1960s shrunk down to the personal laptops we use today, and it’s the same with televisions, mobile phones, and nearly every other electronic device. Medical devices are no exception, and there’s no better example of powerful tech in … Continue reading
For sensitive medical equipment, including ultrasound probes, rigorous quality assurance (QA) is necessary to ensure instruments perform as expected. This is especially true over time, as probes rack up hours of use in the field, where they’re subject to wear and tear. Tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMP) are a critical component in probe testing and calibration. How … Continue reading
COVID-19 came on strong. As the severity of the pandemic became increasingly apparent, the scientific community sought to quickly improve its understanding of COVID’s effects on the human body. Ultrasound imaging was among the first tools to provide actionable insight, and it soon became one of the primary modes of research for grasping the long-term … Continue reading
Contrast is among the chief variables affecting the diagnostic integrity of ultrasound imaging. The ability to leverage image density into a representation of the organ under study, via contrast, helps diagnosticians determine exactly what they’re viewing. This is the purpose of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and it’s particularly useful for examining organ systems that are notoriously … Continue reading
Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is among the most pivotal and universally appreciated technologies in emergency medical care. When precision matters, and every second counts, PoCUS provides the life-saving diagnostic data clinicians need. The utility of PoCUS continues to contribute to the technology’s rapid evolution. Today’s PoCUS devices are more affordable, integrated, and portable enough to go … Continue reading
