Building on the success of its DR X-ray systems, Carestream is now officially active in the U.S. ultrasound market. Upon completing FDA 510(k) clearance of its first two Touch Ultrasound systems, the company aims to extend its reputation for innovative usability into previously uncharted territory.

DOTmed News spoke to Andrew Hartmann, the general manager for Global X-ray Solutions at Carestream about the Touch systems about a week ago, before the company knew about the just-announced FDA approval.

Hartmann described how the company spent years figuring out what frustrated Ultrasound customers about their systems, and looked for ways to improve on those elements.
The Touch Prime and Touch Prime XE are each built for general diagnostic imaging in radiology and have all the features customary to a top level ultrasound system. Utilizing a sealed, all-touch control panel allows the systems to be customized for users who can load their preferences when using the system.

"If you can have a platform that's completely scalable from ultra premium down to point-of-care, that shares transducers and the same user experience, we know that works for our customers," said Hartmann.

The Touch Prime XE is the higher level system of the two and features SynTek Architecture. Carestream describes SynTek as a combination of breakthrough technologies that simultaneously provide enhanced spatial detail with increased frame rates for improved visualization of moving structures while optimizing image formation to reduce noise and artifacts.

The Touch Prime XE is capable of frame rates in excess of 100Hz without compromising image quality. It also has optional DICOM compliance, wireless connectivity, bar code and badge readers, and elastography.

Both systems will be able to communicate easily with future modalities from the company, have sealed panels for easy cleaning, lightweight footprints and easy maneuverability, secure badge-based log-on systems, and "smart connect" transducers.

"Connecting a transducer to the system will drive the clinical area of interest and tell the system, 'I'm an abdominal probe, I want to do an abdominal study,' so the system is being configured by the transducer," explained Hartmann.

Both systems are expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2015, and the company expects to unveil more complimentary ultrasound systems going forward.

CT Homepage