Point-of-Care Ultrasound System Useful for Vascular Surgery

A lightweight portable ultrasound (US) system delivers cost-effective, high performance imaging to the patient point of care (POC) across the clinical spectrum.

The MicroMaxx system comes with a wide range of ultrasound transducers for multiple clinical applications, extending the capabilities of hand-carried systems by adding high-performance features such as high-frequency linear and multiplane transesophageal imaging. The system also includes SonoCalc Intima-Media Thickness (IMT), a proprietary edge-detection software tool that enables clinicians and cardiology specialists to measure quickly, and easily the thickness of the intima of the carotid artery for assessment of arterial wall disease progression and cardiovascular risk.

Application-specific calculations include obstetrics and gynecology measurements such as diameter/ellipse measurements, volume, six follicle measurements, estimated fetal weight, established due date, gestational age, last menstrual period, growth charts, user-defined tables, multiple user selectable authors, ratios, and amniotic fluid index. Vascular measurements include diameter/ellipse/trace measurements, volume, volume flow, percent diameter and area reduction, time average mean (TAM) velocity, peak trace, internal carotid artery/ common carotid artery (ICA/CCA) ratio, and angle correction. Cardiac measurements include a complete cardiac calculations package and patient report, including ventricular, aortic, and atrial measurements; ejection fraction, volume measurements, Simpson's rule, continuity equation, pressure half-time, and cardiac output.

The MicroMaxx system software is hard-wired for faster boot-up times, faster digital image processing, and the ability to run for a long time on battery power. Power is efficiently used, extending battery life in the field. Chip fusion technology enables advanced image resolution by integrating digital signal processing and multiple ultrasound functions into a custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) microchip. The MicroMaxx point-of-care ultrasound system is a product of SonoSite (Seattle, WA, USA).

"Point-of-care ultrasound has now become necessary for a vascular surgeon's practice,” said consultant vascular and endovascular surgeon Tom Browne, of Broomfield Hospital (Chelmsford, United Kingdom). "It's particularly useful for patients who are difficult to move – from intensive care, high dependency units or even in a resuscitation setting. In theatre it's absolutely essential for preoperative marking and perioperative localization of incompetent veins.”

Related Links:
SonoSite
Broomfield Hospital