Siemens has recently announced that their Acuson S2000 ultrasound system is the first medical device to implement Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) technology, which promises clearer, faster images. We first reported about the ARFI technology back in 2005, so take a look at that post to get a better understanding of the foundations of this mechanical impulse tissue sampling technology by ultrasound waves.
The Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification applications are the first commercially available implementations of ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse). Similar to a physical palpation exam, these leading-edge applications represent a new dimension of diagnostic information by interrogating the mechanical strain properties or stiffness of tissue, which may be correlated with pathology. Both applications are particularly suited to evaluating liver tissue.
An examination using Virtual Touch technology is not only faster than conventional methods, it is also significantly more comfortable for the patient. Virtual Touch applications can provide physicians with information that could previously only be obtained via a biopsy, an invasive procedure that is both time-consuming and stressful. Using Virtual Touch applications, tissue is compressed using acoustic energy enabling the evaluation of the mechanical properties of deep areas and the detection of changes in the tissue. Without any need for manual compression quantitative and qualitative information can be obtained.
Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging and Virtual Touch tissue quantification are the first implementation of ARFI and are highly promising in identifying early stages of liver diseases causing cirrhosis. Early studies show that Virtual Touch Tissue Quantificaiton proved extremely sensitive in diagnosing fibrosis and distinguishing it from normal liver and cirrhosis.
Press release: Siemens Integrates ARFI Imaging Into Ultrasound …
Flashbacks: Siemens ACUSON S2000 ; Radiation Force Based Imaging: Clinical Promise Shown
Product page: ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system …