Konica Minolta Medical Imaging has launched a handheld ultrasound unit at RSNA 2013 in Chicago and acquired the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment business of Panasonic Healthcare, the company announced.
Konica said it wishes to strengthen its presence in the primary imaging market and has done so with the launch of its Sonimage P3 handheld ultrasound unit and the acquisition of Panasonic Healthcare's ultrasound technology.
The Sonimage P3 brings advanced imaging capabilities right to the patient or bedside. It can be easily carried in a lab coat or worn like a stethoscope for real-time patient diagnosis at the point of care, according to Konica Minolta. The palm-sized device weights less than 14 ounces and offers B-mode, M-mode, Doppler, and simple to access presets.
The Sonimage P3 is suited for a range of applications, including fetal/pregnancy assessments and abdominal, lung, and pelvic examinations. It can be used as a standalone ultrasound system or plugged into a Windows-based PC, laptop, or tablet for the flexibility of a larger display. All Sonimage P3 devices come standard with Sonimage View software for online imaging and offline review and storage.
The device also features a high-resolution touchscreen, choice of interchangeable transducers, and a 4 GB data card that can store more than 10,000 images, accoding to the company.
Konica Minolta Medical Imaging also announced that its parent company, Konica Minolta, has signed a business transfer agreement with Panasonic Healthcare under which the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment business of Panasonic Healthcare is to be transferred to Konica Minolta. All Panasonic Healthcare's assets for planning, development, manufacturing, sales, maintenance, etc., will be transferred, effective January 1, 2014.
Konica Minolta and Panasonic Healthcare have been jointly developing ultrasonic systems. The existing OEM-supply business relationship between Panasonic Healthcare and its customers also will be transferred to Konica Minolta, the company said.
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)