Ultrasound System's Multiple Usability Features Improve Workflow

A new ultrasound system provides a cost-effective solution for clinicians in a wide range of patient care settings.

Philips Healthcare (Best, The Netherlands) announced the latest addition to its HD ultrasound range of products. The Philips HD15 ultrasound system provides physicians with excellent imaging and workflow performance in a cost-effective system.

The HD15 is a new platform designed to provide an advanced level of image clarity and broad application support for everyday use in small hospitals, clinics, and private practices. The system may be used as a primary system for some users, especially those in emerging markets who require a feature-rich system but may not need all of the features of a high-end ultrasound solution. The HD15 contains multiple usability features to improve workflow, as well as versatile capabilities for a wide range of exam types including general imaging, cardiac, vascular, and obstetric/gynecology applications. Moreover, sophisticated features such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and PureWave transducer technology allow users to perform real-time guidance and evaluation of minimally invasive treatment procedures and provide more diagnostic confidence on technically challenging patients and pathologies.

"Physicians are increasingly turning to ultrasound to help support the growing demand for diagnostic exams and treatment guidance,” said Anne LeGrand, senior vice president, ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare. "The HD15 brings capabilities that assure user simplicity and productivity to more clinicians, in a variety of clinical settings worldwide.”

Advanced Philips technologies such as QLAB quantification software, XRES image processing, and PureWave transducer crystal technology have been integrated into the HD15 to provide clinicians a robust system that assures ease of use and productivity. New Microfine EX focusing provides sharper images and improved tissue uniformity throughout the depth-of-field through application of new dynamic receive lens tuning with five times more focal points than previous generation systems. Tissue-specific imaging presets and iScan one button image optimization can quickly provide clear images with little to no adjustment. A wide range of configurable patient reports and exam storage options, such as DVD-CD-R/RW, USB drive, and full Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) capabilities, provide efficient patient data management and colleague or specialist consulting.

The ultrasound system may potentially change the way clinicians review ultrasound exams with active native data and live compare. Active native data allows clinicians to manipulate exam parameters and image settings even after the patient has left. Images and Cineloops can receive further investigation by manipulating the original image to see new detail. Live compare allows the clinician to compare a previous exam side-by-side with an active exam in order to immediately see changes in structure or blood flow. This can be particularly helpful in comparing changes in cardiac and vascular anomalies, further documenting alteration after interventional procedures, or evaluating fetal development.

The HD family of performance systems now includes the small, utilitarian HD3, the HD7, which was introduced earlier in 2008, the feature-rich HD11 XE, and the new HD15.

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