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
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • 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

Health Benefits of Cabin Beds with Desks for Home School Kids in Lockdown?
Healthcare Technology is Improving the Way We Sleep
The Amazing Saga of Mike Schultz, Citizen Scientist
Onsite Detection of Malaria Could Be Possible with a Battery-Operated Device
Obamacare 411

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

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Medical Advancement on Patient Privacy: It Must Be Protected At All Cost

May 25, 2016
Image
Medical EthicsNewsPolicy & Law

Surrogacy in the News: Extreme Story Not Reflective of Ethical Practices

March 8, 2013
Image
eHealthMobile HealthNews

High Quality, Low Cost HealthCare Video Interview Series: Dr Oliver Kharraz From ZocDoc Talks Appointments

February 12, 2013

Blood Money

December 8, 2011
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?