There have only been incremental improvements in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) over the past decade. However, three new technologies introduced in 2010, and a few more expected to enter trials or be commercialized in 2011, are pushing new frontiers.

Characterizing Plaque

During a time when the U.S. healthcare reform is on the minds of many within the medical community, physicians and hospital administrators are continuously looking for ways to cut spending. One avenue that physicians and hospitals are exploring is to limit the use of expensive medical devices, such as drug-eluting stents (DES).

In the same fashion that the echocardiogram helped transform the cardiac exam, recent developments in the field of portable ultrasound are providing cardiologists with a new way to visualize the heart at the initial patient screening.

In a world where everything is unplugged and cordless is king, cardiology is constantly searching for and developing the technology to make patient care both better and more convenient.


For patients with severe hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite medical therapy, radiofrequency (RF) energy can be used in the renal vessels to block nerves involved with the sympathetic nervous system. Researchers believe this has the potential to impact the mechanical and hormonal activities of the kidneys and may eliminate the need for medical therapy.

Over the past few years, there have been three key areas of advancement in cardiovascular ultrasound technology – miniaturization, 3-D/4-D imaging and quantification measurements.

When it comes to interventional cardiology, increasing diagnostic confidence and reducing exam time are paramount to improving overall patient care.

December 10, 2010 – A new set of software applications that improves the quality of patient data and increases clinician productivity and efficiency has been launched. SentrySuite, by CareFusion, is designed for pulmonary and cardiopulmonary diagnostic settings. The software focuses on data, organization, workflow and connectivity so physicians can focus more time on patient care.

December 10, 2010 – An ECG management system is now offered with an IT solution for cardiac imaging. Siemens Healthcare now offers the ScImage PicomECG with its syngo Dynamics system.

December 10, 2010 – The 5th annual list of the Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2011 is now available. The list, from the ECRI Institute, features the top health technology hazards that warrant critical attention by hospitals and other healthcare organizations.

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