Toshiba's new ultrasound technology depicts blood flow with more detail and accuracy

Dec 3 2013

Ultrasound will be able to depict blood flow with more detail and accuracy using Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s new innovative ultrasound technology (works-in-progress). This capability is the latest advancement to Toshiba's premium Aplio™ 500 ultrasound system, which will help provide clinicians with a worry-free experience.

Despite advances in ultrasound, current imaging techniques struggle to detect microvascular blood flow in areas like the liver, kidneys, abdomen and lymph nodes, because of limitations in conventional Doppler technologies. Toshiba's new technology will help solve this problem and current evaluations have shown great promise in its ability to characterize tumors.

Dr. Flemming Forsberg, Ph.D., professor of Radiology at Thomas Jefferson University, is impressed with his early analysis of the technology. "The images we've produced so far with this technology are stunning," Forsberg said. "It is able to clearly show low blood flow in small vessels throughout the body. The potential clinical utility for characterizing lesions, cysts and tumors could make ultrasound an even more important tool in diagnoses."

Dr. Jiro Hata, Ph.D., professor, Dept. of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Kawasaki Medical School in Japan, an early evaluator of this technology, is excited about its potential. "This level of vascular visualization combined with high frame rates is something we could not do before in ultrasound," Hata said. "For example, ultrasound can now help with the evaluation of changing blood flow patterns, especially in the gastrointestinal tract."

"This innovation allows for the visualization of microvascular blood flow never before seen with ultrasound," said Tomohiro Hasegawa, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. "Expanding ultrasound's capabilities means safer exams for patients and more cost-effective solutions for hospitals."

Toshiba is introducing the new technology at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, Dec. 1-6, 2013 (Booth #7330, North Hall).