Breakthrough High-Resolution Micro-Ultrasound Platform for the Prostate Revealed at AUA 2015

A novel micro-ultrasound imaging platform has been introduced at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) 2015 (New Orleans, LA, USA).

The probe operates at 29 MHz, and enables real-time high-resolution imaging, comparable to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and guided biopsies of the prostate. The system is an extension of the current urological workflow, and will enable urologists to visualize suspicious areas in the prostate, target biopsies at those specific areas, and perform systematic trans-rectal ultrasound biopsy protocols.

The ExactVu platform was developed by Exact Imaging (Markham, ON, Canada), but has not yet received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Silver Spring, MD USA) or CE approval, and is not yet available for commercial release.

The ExactVu platform will support routine imaging with conventional probes and frequencies, such as trans-abdominal and other urological procedures. The ExactVu will also provide the urologist with a platform to address routine urological imaging procedures and achieve improvements in clinical care and outcomes.

Randy AuCoin, president of Exact Imaging, said, "There is a real need for improved and cost-effective imaging tools that could be used by urologists during their regular workflow and in their offices to better visualize suspicious regions in real-time and to better target their prostate biopsies. Today we are introducing ExactVu, our novel micro-ultrasound platform that will enable a new paradigm in resolution—300% improved compared to conventional ultrasound and with comparable resolution to MRI—so that urologists will be able to clearly visualize and target suspicious regions for biopsy, in addition to performing systematic biopsy protocols."

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