Siemens Radiology Ultra Sound Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging

Siemens Radiology Ultra Sound
Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging
new model
Siemens Radiology Ultra Sound Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging

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Phase-inversion ultrasound offers
new views of tumors and organs

Innovations in contrast agent ultrasound imaging offer clinicians new clues for evaluating cancer and determining the health of vital organs.

Used with ultrasound contrast agents, Siemens patented Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging technology provides rare, detailed views of blood flow within microscopic feeder vessels and illuminates the characteristics of blood flow within vital organs. This enables clinicians to:

 
  • Spotlight tough-to-detect lesions within the liver, prostate, pancreas and kidney;
  • Obtain detailed views of organ perfusion to determine organ vitality;
  • Analyze complex blood flow patterns around tumors to help detect abnormalities; and
  • Enhance fundamental gray scale imaging.

Ultrasound contrast agents are tiny, gas-filled microbubbles that are highly reflective. Injected into the blood stream using a simple intravenous line, microbubbles are then able to travel into the smallest capillary networks.

When clinicians expose these agents to the ultrasound pulse, they return signals that are thousands of times more reflective than blood. Ensemble Contrast Imaging allows the SONOLINE® Elegra ultrasound system to isolate these reflective signals to obtain rare views of flow within small vessels and surrounding parenchyma.

In the later phases of Contrast Imaging, the "Burst Mode" breaks the microbubbles, creating a strong enhancement in areas where there is a high concentration of contrast agent in the blood. Therefore, areas of normal perfused tissue light up. Abnormal, diseased tissue does not. This makes it easier to distinguish lesions.

Ensemble Contrast Imaging technology can be used with both high and low frequency imaging. This technology, together with Tissue Harmonic Imaging is a function of Siemens Ensemble™ Harmonic Imaging, a phase-inversion imaging technique that produces clearer images in all patients, even those who are difficult to scan.



Contrast Imaging
The highly reflective bubbles, present in ultrasound contrast agents, vibrate strongly at harmonic frequencies. Improved detection of echoes from slow, low velocity blood flow lasts 1-60 minutes. This source of sound is distinguishable from tissue with harmonic imaging.

Contrast Imaging
Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging, together with 3-Scape™ Real-Time 3D Imaging, demonstrate the relationship of a liver hemangioma to the hepatic vasculature.
The above information is destined for professional use in the medical and medical technology fields.  Product availability is subject to, among others, local regulatory requirements.

[© Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., Ultrasound Group, 1998, 1999.]

 

Siemens Radiology Ultra Sound Ensemble™ Contrast Imaging