Washington, D.C. -- At the 20th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) in Washington, D.C., from June 6-10, Siemens Healthcare (booth #411) will be demonstrating a new Gold Standard in Echocardiography: Non-stitched, real-time full-volume 3D images of the heart acquired in one single heart cycle with the ACUSON SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system. The latest release of the system features unique technologies and applications that improve diagnostic confidence and workflow in echocardiography. The company will also showcase the world's first volume 3D intra-cardiac echocardiography catheter, the ACUSON AcuNav V ultrasound catheter, which delivers real-time volumetric information from inside the heart.

"Performing echocardiography procedures with the ACUSON SC2000 system is like flying an airplane as opposed to driving," said Klaus Hambuechen, chief executive officer, Ultrasound, Siemens Healthcare. "Volume echocardiography is powerful, high-precision and fast. And the level of automation offered by the system gives busy echocardiographers exactly what they need in today's demanding clinical environment: A tool that lets them focus on the patient and procedure instead of the technology, ultimately, delivering the highest quality of care, while at the same time, simplifying and accelerating clinical workflows."

The system has unprecedented information rate processing power that allows the acquisition of a full volume of the entire heart at 90 x 90 degrees, up to 40 volumes per second at 16 cm depth. With 16 times the processing power of a conventional 2D system, more than 540 volumes per second at maximum information rate is possible -- performance that dramatically reduces acquisition time, improving the overall workflow in the echocardiography suite.
Superior Diagnostic Imaging Performance and Workflow

New to the ACUSON SC2000 volume imaging system is the unique INFocus coherent imaging technology. Without the need to continuously set and select a given location of best focus, INFocus technology sharpens the full-field image at all times without sacrificing frame rate. The technology delivers continuous full-field transmit focusing and uses the power of 64 receive beams, maximizing imaging information rate to better resolve cardiac structure and motion for superior diagnostic imaging.

"One-beat full-volume acquisition caters to a wider variety of patients," said Michael Snyder, global segment manager, Cardiology at Siemens Healthcare's Ultrasound Business Unit. "It allows care givers to provide the benefits of best-in-class echocardiography for difficult-to-image persons or patients who have difficulty holding their breath."

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