About 40 DIVO units are in use to date, many in pediatric echocardiography. While DIVO could be used for any specialty, it's particularly helpful in this field. "The incidence of severe heart disease isn't so extreme or common that there are practitioners in every community. We have to provide care for an entire region," Dr. Loitz explained. He and his colleagues cover more than 20 community hospitals in Southern California.

Clinical issues in pediatrics also make DIVO advantageous. "In pediatric cardiology we are dealing with very complex abnormalities of the structure of the heart," Dr. Loitz said. "That requires extended imaging as you're slowly sweeping from one [visual] plane to another. You're not capable of doing that if you're constrained to five-second loops, as some other systems that do digital recordings of ultrasound."


DIVO can record extended studies including Doppler audio to give physicians the whole picture. It does not require any additional work on the part of technologist conducting the exam; in fact, the results are sent so quickly that the doctor on the receiving end can immediately direct the technologist if another image angle is needed.

There's no doubt that DIVO saves lives. "I saw the baby twice already in the office; the baby is now about two months old and wonderful...and her mom is so happy. She literally brought in a baby that was dying and now the baby is thriving. It's amazing," Dr. De Oliveira said. "If I had to drive 20 miles in traffic on a Saturday to read the study and then decide the baby needed [transportation] it would be a delay, and delaying on this very critically ill baby would not have had the same outcome. I am totally sure of that."

[Note: Case example details and identifying information have been withheld or changed to protect patient confidentiality]

Back to HCB News

More Voices