The Ultrasound Update 3/12/2021

This week’s ultrasound and medical news highlights, curated by National Ultrasound, Inc.

Ultrasound News Highlights:

• Point of care diaphragm ultrasound: An objective tool to predict the severity of pneumonia and outcomes in children
  • Researchers sought to determine if diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) parameters may afford a new beneficial instrument to allow objective scoring of the severity of the disease and prediction of results in children suffering from pneumonia.
• Check please! AI expansion in radiology hinges on healthcare’s value proposition
  • The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has recently started reimbursing providers for two AI tools, but these payment pathways remain limited and may not entice private payers to follow the government’s lead.
• Pairing ultrasound with artificial intelligence reduces unnecessary breast biopsies
  • US is the most widely used diagnostic tool to evaluate such abnormalities among women in China, but it is subject to variability based on the operator. To help address some of this variation, researchers tested out a commercially available, deep learning algorithm that can help discriminate malignant lesions from benign ones.
• Google search trends help predict imaging demand among Medicare beneficiaries
  • Google Trends can help predict imaging study demand among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a new analysis. They believe their data can provide useful clues as policymakers and practices respond to imaging demand in the coming years.
• Clear Cranial Implant Allows Ultrasound Imaging of Brain: Interview with CEO of Longeviti Neuro Solutions
  • Longeviti Neuro Solutions, a medtech company based in Maryland, has announced that its ClearFit cranial implant has been cleared by the FDA for post-surgery ultrasound imaging. The clear implants are used for cranial reconstruction after brain surgery, and are custom-made for each patient.

From the National Ultrasound Blog:

• Comparing the New Mindray MX7 to the Mindray M7
  • The Mindray MX7 is the new upgraded model of the popular Mindray M7. The MX7 is the first Mindray portable system powered by ZST+ (Zone Sonography Technology). ZST+ has innovative channel data processing method that offers a high quality ultrasound image 10 times faster than conventional beamformer technology.
• Webinar: Elesta EchoLaser SoracteLite laser ablation treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
  • Within the field of MITs, EchoLaser SoracteLite™ TPLA (Transperineal Laser Ablation) represents a micro-invasive innovative and painless option treatment, performed without anaesthesia using extremely thin applicators and low energy doses. Register for the webinar to learn more.
• Buyer’s Guide for Point of Care Ultrasound Machines (POCUS)
  • The large variety of point of care ultrasound features, functionality, and price on the market these days can make it difficult to narrow it down to just one unit. National Ultrasound’s team of experts, made up of experienced sonographers has put together recommendations for point of care ultrasound equipment.