Ultrasound is the great enabler in medical imaging. It can be used almost anywhere on a patient, it’s noninvasive, and it's priced low enough to make it one of the most widely used modalities in the world. Corporate consolidations this past year affirm the ever-growing popularity of the technology. And the RSNA meeting offers vendors a stage to showcase their most important developments, notable this year in the proliferation of smaller scanners, 3-D technology, and contrast-enhanced imaging.
Two major news stories happened just this month. First, Siemens Medical Engineering closed a deal to acquire the last major independent U.S. ultrasound firm, Acuson. Second, Philips Medical Systems agreed to acquire the healthcare solutions group of Agilent Technologies, and with it Agilent's strong position in cardiac ultrasound.
On the product front, the market for portable and handheld scanners continues to heat up worldwide, with first-time entrant MySono.com coming onto a field already populated by Terason and SonoSite.
Small-parts ultrasound, with higher-frequency probes and improved system processing to reduce unwanted image noise, is another facet of the industry RSNA attendees will want to investigate.
Contrast agent-enhanced imaging and 3-D ultrasound are two other hot technologies to keep an eye on when visiting this year's exhibits at McCormick Place.
For an overview of what ultrasound vendors will be bringing to the convention floor, visit AuntMinnie’s preview of the meeting, in our RadCast@RSNA special edition.
By Jonathan S. BatchelorAuntMinnie.com staff writer
November 17, 2000
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