Siemens Medical Solutions' Ultrasound Division (www.usa.siemens.com/medical) has introduced the High Performance Imaging release for their ACUSON Sequoia™ echocardiography platform. The technology was presented last week at the American College of Cardiology meeting.

The release adds two new transducers to the system: the 9L4 Multi-D and the 17L5 HD. Multi-D™ array transducer technology provides uniform elevation focusing for improved contrast and spatial resolution. The 17L5 HD transducer dramatically improves the vascular image detail, as well as overall resolution in imaging of the breast, small parts and complex masses. Its patent-pending ergonomic design allows users to easily grip the transducer in their palm, reducing hand strain while scanning.

The ACUSON Sequoia High Performance Imaging release also includes Advanced SieClear™ spatial compounding with Dynamic TCE™ tissue contrast enhancement. Spatial compounding reduces acoustic noise by generating several frames of data with independent information and averaging those frames with the help of speckle patterns. It provides better detail and contrast resolution through more precise anatomical border definition, notably the carotid intima-media boundary.
New to the Sequoia system is a high-definition 19-inch flat panel display with articulating arm that provides optimal positioning in all scanning environments and improves the ergonomic design of the system.

New Applications On and Off the Ultrasound System
Also exhibited at the ACC, Siemens released syngo® US Workplace, version 2.0. This release brings two new applications to the comprehensive dynamic risk assessment and quantification tools found in syngo US Workplace: syngo Arterial Health Package (AHP) and syngo Mitral Valve Assessment (MVA). These applications are also available as part of the Sequoia 12.0 release. They supplement the already-available syngo applications such as Velocity Vector Imaging™ (VVI), Auto Ejection Fraction (EF), Quantitative Synch Tool (QST), Auto-Tracking Contrast Quantification (ACQ) and fourSight TEE™ Transesophageal Echocardiography view applications.

The new syngo Arterial Health Package combines semi-automated measurement of carotid intima-media thickness, Framingham risk factors, and relative vascular age to deliver a predictive cardiovascular risk assessment. In combination with the 9L4 Multi-D transducer, syngo AHP helps physicians estimate the extent of atherosclerotic disease in its early stages. This optimizes proactive treatment and preventative care and helps provide meaningful early intervention for patients.

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