By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    What Would You Do?
    January 28, 2013
    How Martin Shkreli is driving down drug prices
    May 24, 2017
    Here’s How The Body Deals With Pain – And How You Can Treat Yours
    December 31, 2018
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Cutting the Cord in Ultrasound Systems
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Cutting the Cord in Ultrasound Systems
DiagnosticsMedical InnovationsNewsRadiology

Cutting the Cord in Ultrasound Systems

Steve Goldstein
Steve Goldstein
Share
4 Min Read
Image
SHARE

For many radiologists and other physicians, the Holy Grail in ultrasound imaging has been a system that features wireless transducers. Transducer cables have always been a cumbersome necessity, but they present challenges that go far beyond the annoying twisted wires of your ear buds. Not only are they an impediment to fast and ergonomic examination procedures,  but they also present an infection control risk in interventional settings even when they are covered in sterile sheaths.

For many radiologists and other physicians, the Holy Grail in ultrasound imaging has been a system that features wireless transducers. Transducer cables have always been a cumbersome necessity, but they present challenges that go far beyond the annoying twisted wires of your ear buds. Not only are they an impediment to fast and ergonomic examination procedures,  but they also present an infection control risk in interventional settings even when they are covered in sterile sheaths.

But here at RSNA2012, Siemens Healthcare has introduced a cable-free, wireless ultrasound system. The “Acuson ImageFreestyle” ultrasound system will, the company said, expand ultrasound’s use in interventional and therapeutic applications.” The technology is said to aid workflow and enhance image quality.

“This is the first wireless ultrasound system, the first system with a wireless transducer,” said Mike Cannon, Siemens’ head of point of care for ultrasound. “That’s the goal that a lot of people in imaging have had for a long time. There were a lot of people in ultrasound asking for it. There were a lot of technical challenges to get there and that’s why we’re the only one right now. There were design challenges because the use we’re going after — interventional guidance — still requires really high quality images. So we had to meet the conventional performance demands but we had to do it with an unconventional system, a wireless probe.”

More Read

HIMSS12 Trends: Q&A with Intel’s Chief Architect of Healthcare
Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
The Curious Case of Testosterone
HealthWorks Collective is One Year Old Today!
Mobile Health Around the Globe: Barcelona – Interview With Jorge Juan Fernandez

The transducer looks like a fat gray TV remote without any buttons. Joe Urbano of Siemens put some gel on the end and held it to his neck and I saw a very vivid image of his carotid artery on a laptop-sized computer screen. The transducer takes a rechargeable lithium ion battery, like your smart phone, and has a range of about 10 feet — typically longer than the cabled device.

Said Cannon: “To move this amount of data for video over the link, we had to devise a system where the available bandwidth could sustain real time imaging. The probe is lightweight, ergonomic and rechargeable. One of the real innovations is doing all this with the probe and doing it at low power to get good battery life and good thermal control so it doesn’t get too hot.

“The real advantage of the wireless is guiding procedures and guiding interventions,” Cannon said. He mentioned procedures using ultrasound guidance such as vascular access, nerve blocks, biopsies, draining cysts, “These would be hospital-based and  procedural based, used as  adjunct to some kind of therapeutic intervention,” he continued.Image

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. But don’t expect to find one of these bad boys under your Christmas tree; Cannon said the Freestyles won’t ship until spring. Pricing is still to be determined.

“We’ve had senior physicians say they never thought they’d see this in their lifetime,” said Cannon. For those folks, a lifetime of waiting is over.

 

TAGGED:RSNA2012Siemens
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

benefits of EHR systems in healthcare
Technology

Using EHR systems in healthcare for Cost-Effective Services

February 9, 2023

Big Tobacco is Still Targeting Our Kids

March 23, 2012
Screen Shot 2015-07-12 at 4.00.51 PM
BusinessMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsSpecialties

Reducing Readmissions and Costs for Total Joint Replacement

July 14, 2015
health technology
eHealthMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsTechnology

Crossing the Chasm with Connectivity

October 17, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?