Siemens Unveils New Portable Ultrasound for Faster Imaging

Siemens Healthcare’s new handheld ultrasound system may be small, but it can still tackle some fairly big jobs.

The Frosk edition of the company’s Acuson P500 ultrasound system — unveiled recently at a trade show for emergency room doctors — features fast, high-end imaging in a compact 15-inch digital notebook structure. The Frosk system’s size helps clinicians make quick decisions even in difficult scanning conditions, the company claims. In addition, the product’s battery provides up to 60 minutes of scanning time, and the system itself boots up rapidly (it is ready for scanning in less than 30 seconds).

The Acuson P500 system’s clear user interface is easy to learn and operate for users of all experience levels, according to Siemens. It features a highly sensitive touch screen display with advanced infrared technology for accurate gesturing. A dual interface control panel offers flexible use of the touch screen or a traditional control panel based on each user’s own scanning preferences, allowing them to spend less time on the system and more time on the patient.

“The P500 is simple but not simplistic. Novice sonographers will appreciate its intuitive, easy-to-use interface, whereas more sophisticated users will enjoy the state-of-the-art features available”, said Adam J. Ash, D.O., R.D.M.S., associate director with the Department of Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Beth Page, N.Y. “The persistence and color artifact suppression technologies make doppler imaging much more accessible, and the inclusion of continuous wave doppler allows those interested to perform truly advanced cardiac studies.”

The Acuson P500 Frosk edition is highly portable. A small footprint enables easy navigation through cramped emergency room spaces, while its engineering produces high-quality imaging on demand, Siemens executives said.