ultrasound tech schools
BOTHELL, Wash. — EKOS Corporation announced today that Dr. David W. Newell, Co–Executive
Director, Swedish Neuroscience Institute (SNI, Seattle, WA) presented a
SNI clinical study known as ‘SLEUTH’ (Safety of Lysis with Ultrasound in
the Treatment of Intracerebral (ICH) and Intraventricular Hemorrhage
(IVH) at the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference
(San Antonio, TX).
Dr. Newell said, “The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety
and efficacy of a novel therapy which combines ultrasound with
recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) delivered through a
microcatheter directly into spontaneous IVH or ICH in humans, to
facilitate evacuation of the hemorrhage.”
Dr. Newell said that the 35 patients presented at SNI with ICH and IVH
were screened between November 2008 and July 2009 for entry into the
study. Entry criteria included the spontaneous onset of ICH ≥ 25cc and
or IVH producing ventricular obstruction. Nine patients (ages 38-83,
average = 63, 6 male, 3 female) who met entry criteria were consented
and entered into the trial. A ventricular drainage catheter and an
ultrasound microcatheter were stereotactically delivered together,
directly into the IVH or ICH. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
(rt-PA) and 24 hours of continuous ultrasound were delivered and gravity
drainage was performed. In patients with IVH a total of 3 mg of rt-PA
was injected, and in patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhages a total
of 0.9 mg rt-PA was injected, in three doses over 24 hours.
Dr. Newell reported that all patients had significant volume reductions
of the treated hemorrhage. The mean percentage volume reduction after 24
hours of treatment, compared to the pre-treatment stability scans, as
determined by CT were 59 % ± 5 (sem) for ICH, and 45.1% ±13 (sem) for
IVH (1 ICH patient was excluded from analysis due to catheter breakage).
There were no intracranial infections and there were no significant
episodes of re-bleeding by clinical or CT assessment. There was 1 death
by 30 days after admission. Clinical improvements as determined by a
decrease in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) were
demonstrated at 30 days in 7/9 patients. The rate of thrombolysis was
compared between 8 patients who completed treatment, to cohorts of
patients treated using identical doses of tPA and catheter drainage
without ultrasound for IVH and ICH (courtesy of MISTIE and CLEAR studies
which are large IVH/ICH studies sponsored by the NIH which are already
underway and do no use ultrasound acceleration ). Compared to MISTIE /
CLEAR data we observed a faster rate of lysis during the first 24 hours
of treatment for IVH (p=0.046) and for ICH (p=0.074) in the patients
treated with sonolysis tPA.
Dr. Newell noted, “Lysis and drainage of spontaneous ICH and IVH with
reduction of mass effect can be accomplished rapidly and safely by
sonothrombolysis using stereotactically delivered drainage and
ultrasound catheters through a burr hole. A larger clinical trial with
catheters specifically designed for brain blood clot removal is
warranted.”
Pocket-Sized, Easy-to-Use Device Enables Physicians to Provide More
Rapid Diagnoses by Enhancing the Physical Exam
MILWAUKEE — GE Healthcare today announced the availability of Vscan, a new,
pocket-sized visualization tool developed to provide physicians with
imaging capabilities at the point-of-care. Roughly the size of a smart
phone, Vscan houses powerful, ultra-smart ultrasound technology that
provides clinicians with an immediate, non-invasive method to help
secure visual information about what is happening inside the body. Vscan
is portable and can easily be taken from room to room to be used in many
clinical, hospital or primary care settings.
The Vscan imaging device received 510(k) clearance in the U.S. by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CE Mark by the European Union,
as well as the Medical Device License from Health Canada and is now
commercially available in the U.S., Europe, India and Canada.
“Having Vscan at my disposal at all times has allowed me to use
ultrasound in a number of settings and with patients that I wouldnt
have anticipated before – from the ICU, to the outpatient clinic as well
as with ambulatory patients,” said Anthony N. DeMaria, MD, Professor of
Medicine, Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology and Director,
Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at University of California, San Diego
School of Medicine. “Vscan is more than a simple diagnostic tool. The
handheld device should help physicians make treatment decisions more
quickly. I believe the Vscan technology will play an important role in
physical exams.”
The ability to take a quick look inside the body using Vscan may help
clinicians detect disease earlier. This may prove invaluable in today’s
busy practice environment including primary care physicians and those
specializing in cardiology, critical and emergency care and women’s
health, as well as hospitalists.
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