Philips targets 3-D with new ultrasound scanner at ECR show

VIENNA - Three-dimensional imaging is the focus of a new ultrasound scanner being launched by Philips Medical Systems this week at the 2002 European Congress of Radiology meeting. The new system, called ATL HDI 4000, includes two different modes of 3-D imaging.

The HDI 4000 was designed to be a multipurpose scanner, for both radiology and shared-services applications. But Philips of Bothell, WA, decided to include both freehand and mechanical 3-D modes to meet increasing market demand for the technology, according to Rick Dugan, specialty ultrasound solutions at the company.

Philips believes that the HDI 4000 will be more versatile than dedicated 3-D scanners currently on the market. Philips customers told the company that they weren't happy with the 2-D image quality of those systems, Dugan said.

The scanner's freehand 3-D is similar to what's available on other Philips' systems, such as its HDI 5000 and HDI 3500, with specialized add-on modules. But the mechanical technique, called Live 3D, was developed specifically for the HDI 4000.

By having the transducer sweep through in a mechanically controlled motion rather than via a freehand technique, Live 3D acquires data that's more precise and that can be used for quantitative measurement of volumes. The system can also acquire four volumes a second. HDI 4000 comes with three Live 3D scanheads, targeted at fetal and ob/gyn applications, such as transvaginal scanning.

The HDI 4000 also includes advanced image-management capabilities, according to Jim Walchenbach, marketing manger of general imaging for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The scanner can burn images directly to a CD, the only ultrasound system in Philips' product line capable of doing so. It also exports DICOM-compatible files.

The system is based on 512-channel architecture with 150 dB of dynamic range, and runs on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer.

The HDI 4000 will occupy a price point below the company's HDI 5000 product line, and above the HDI 3500 system (which will continue to be manufactured). It will carry a retail price of 90,000 euros (€) for a system with Live 3D and €80,000 without it. Shipments are expected to begin in April, and Philips will also show the system at next week's American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in Nashville.

By Brian Casey
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
March 3, 2002

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