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Siemens Healthcare introduced Liver Elastography with high resolution ultrasound imaging for the first time in India

Siemens Ltd is banking on a new medical technology which can detect liver diseases in early stages. The technology called liver elastography is connected to the ultrasound imaging machine and can detect liver diseases like liver tumours, those causing cirrhosis, and also in knowing the stage at which hepatitis is prevalent. The new system ACUSON S2000, is installed at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG), Hyderabad. Covering the entire continuum of care from screening, diagnosis, therapy and follow-up, ACUSON S2000 features applications across general imaging, including obstetrics and gynecology, as well as vascular and cardiac imaging.

J Sunder Rajan, head, strategy & business development, Siemens, said this technology has huge potential in India where liver diseases are highly prevalent. "It was introduced in April in India, and by November this year, we aim at having about ten installations of the ultrasound machine with this technology from the current four." The Rs 11,800 crore Siemens is aiming at doubling the number of installations in the next two years. Rajan said that the technology would work well in the Indian market as it would help in reducing patient's costs. "It does not require hospital stay. Also, unlike MRI, CT that cost several thousands, liver elastography can cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. Going forward the price can fall further." Moreover, the ultrasound machine can be used by hospitals in conducting routine ultrasound imaging including obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as vascular and cardiac imaging. For the first time in India, ACUSON S2000 introduces a technology called Liver Elastography performed using Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse (ARFI) imaging. The assessment provided by this technology combined with high resolution imaging, enables physicians for differentiation in abnormalities such as liver tumors, liver diseases causing cirrhosis or the quantification of fibrosis progression. Liver Elastography provides information about liver, which was earlier obtained via biopsy — an invasive procedure, which is both time-consuming and stressful for the patient. This new technology is faster than conventional methods and provides comfort to the patients as well.

ACUSON S2000TM provides one-of-its-kind knowledge-based workflow — software like syngo eSieCalcs, syngo Auto OB measurements and syngo fourSight ViewTool help physicians to maintain their schedule and keep them free from repetitive tasks. syngo eSieCalcs, a tracing software introduced for the first time in India is based on sophisticated border detection technology that automatically increases measurement accuracy of complex lesions. The syngo Auto OB measurements uses pattern recognition technology to significantly improve workflow by reducing keystrokes up to 70% of routine examination. Lastly, the syngo fourSight ViewTool is a convenient offline analysis tool that helps to minimize system use and reduce exam times. The system ergonomically has been designed to minimize stress — this includes features like rotating and elevating console, flexible articulating arm, enhanced image quality in all lighting situations and advanced transducers that allows scanning of technically difficult-to-image patients.

Mr. D Ragavan, Executive Vice President, Siemens Healthcare says, “At Siemens Healthcare, we strongly believe that our technologies should help the doctors to do ‘Early Detection’ of diseases in their patients, so that the cost of treatment can be minimized as much as possible. ACUSON S2000TM comes with the most innovative applications that will enable physicians to early detection of diseases in liver. While all the vendors have been focusing on continuously enhancing the image quality in the ultrasound products, our scientists have gone beyond and have now come up with techniques such as ARFI taking the role of Ultrasound far beyond its current utilization.”

Source: Siemens India

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