PIUR tUS Infinity 3D ultrasound technology scores FDA clearance for thyroid imaging
September 25, 2024
by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter
PIUR IMAGING has received FDA clearance for its PIUR tUS Infinity ultrasound technology, which can upgrade existing 2D ultrasound systems to 3D imaging systems. It's currently available for thyroid imaging, but the company has plans to expand it to other applications.
"As in many other countries, the number of patients that require imaging is significantly growing and this is particularly the case in thyroid imaging, since an increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with thyroid nodules," Frederik Bender, CEO of PIUR IMAGING, told HCB News. "One of the contributors to this is that the diagnostic methods get better and things that have not been found in the past can now be identified."
He added that while the number of patients is increasing, the resources and number of physicians who can take care of them is not increasing at the same rate. That means that imaging solutions that allow physicians to perform diagnostic imaging very efficiently without lessening the quality of diagnostic results are needed.
"We believe that our tomographic ultrasound solution can contribute to this because unlike traditional 2D ultrasound, it is possible to split image acquisition and image analysis," said Bender. "The imaging part can be performed by trained technicians or nurses, and therefore, saving physicians’ time."
The company has developed tools that help physicians extract diagnostic information from the 3D scans as well as with reporting. The PIUR tUS Infinity can also generate standardized reports that can be easily integrated into a facility's PACS.
With this technology, clinicians can capture highly-detailed volumetric data sets of thyroid lobes and nodules in only one scan. These enhanced imaging capabilities may qualify for reimbursement through PT Category I code 76377.
Since PIUR tUS Infinity is a platform technology, it has the capability of eventually being used for more applications. In Europe it's already released for additional applications including carotid plaque volume assessment for cardiovascular screening, and venous mapping to support with varicose vein treatments.
"Future applications may include, for example, prostate, breast, or abdominal imaging," said Bender. "We will let the market decide what to launch next — there are a lot of possibilities."