Guiding a long needle to its target deep within the body can be a tricky business, but ultrasound has been a helpful modality for decades for physicians to see where they’re going. Because of the nature of ultrasound, the needle disappears from the screen when viewed from certain angles, often blinding the clinician just at the moment of truth. SonoSite has identified this as a serious problem and has been working for the last two years to develop algorithms that can identify the needle from any angle. By simply pressing a button on the machine, these special algorithms are engaged and the needle lights up on the screen (see below). Now peripheral nerve blocks should be a cinch using the Enhanced Needle Visualization technology that’s being built into SonoSite’s line of ultrasounds.
Press release: SonoSite Introduces Major Software Breakthrough for Visualizing Deep Needle Insertions at Steep Angles …
Product page: SonoSite Enhanced Needle Visualization …