Product Review: ACUSON Redwood Ultrasound System

Siemens Healthineers has always been at the forefront of introducing ground-breaking innovations to the market—for the benefit of patients, medical professional, and society and the newly launched ACUSON Redwood premium ultrasound technology is a testimony to the same. The system is built on the company’s new platform architecture and features advanced applications that enable precise lesion detection and characterization as well as potentially reduces the need for invasive procedures. Leveraging AI-powered tools, the ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system reduces exam burden and enhances efficiency. Besides delivering premium image quality, exceptional performance, greater workflow efficiency, the ultrasound system offers clinicians an affordable solution with great clinical confidence.

With harmonic coherent image formation ultrasonic imaging method, the ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system exhibits favourable imaging characteristics such as improved contrast-to-noise ratio, better delineation of borders, improved speckle signal-to-noise ratio. Maintaining B-mode image quality performance even in complex modes, the ultrasound system does not let patient and probe motion compromise image quality, and provide higher resolution, higher frame rate when compared to other ultrasound systems.

For an ultrasonic transducer, the most important component is the piezoelectrical element used in the probe based on their electrical properties. Piezoelectric single crystals have superior dielectric and piezoelectric properties with significant advantages such as broad bandwidth and high sensitivity. The piezoelectric single crystals can provide diagnostic quality information about microscopic structures in living tissues, which supports deeper penetration and clearer imaging.

Speckles (random granular pattern) degrade the detail and contrast resolution of ultrasound images, which make accurate diagnosis more difficult. UltraArt universal image processing is a state-of-the-art speckle reduction algorithm that enhances ridges of directional structures and sharpen edges prior to image resolution without losing important features. In terms of clinical workflow, UltraArt universal image processing increases continuity of specular reflectors, improves contrast, reduce complexity and redundance, and enables robust image presentation and aesthetics. Also, UltraArt universal image processing enables a simple and intuitive graphical user interface unlike traditional post-processing user control that prevents users from choosing an ideal combination of images.

AutoTEQ ultrasound technology allows single-button optimization for consistent reproducible image quality, reduced operator strain, and greater diagnostic confidence. Thus, the technology significantly reduces time spend in optimizing images and improves the consistency and quality of diagnostic exams. AutoTEQ technology is independent of the user’s gain settings and instantly equalizes when switching between 2D and THI imaging modes.

With one-click registration, tools powered by artificial intelligence, and comprehensive suite of over 13 transducers supporting a diverse range of clinical applications, ACUSON Redwood Ultrasound system reduce downtime, maximize system performance, and enhance uptime. For faster and reliable support, the ACUSON Redwood Ultrasound system consists of Smart Remote Services, PEP Connect, teamplay Fleet.

To meet the demand for early detection, diagnosis, and timely treatment, ACUSON Redwood system offers a comprehensive suite of advanced applications such as:

·         Point Shear Wave Technology

When acoustic radiance force pulse is sent through tissues, the pulse generates lateral shear waves. Together ARFI and shear wave detection provide accurate and reproducible quantification and visualization of tissue stiffness. The one-touch shear wave technology provides extremely valuable insight for the assessment of liver in case of chronic diseases for both necro-inflammatory activity and fibrosis.

·         2D Shear Wave

2D shear wave elastography technique allows the interrogation of the tissue by acoustic radiation force impulses induced into them. The technology allows the elasticity to be displayed using a color-coded image that provides impressive results.

·         Strain Elastography

Strain elastography is a technique that enables improved detection and characterisation of breast masses. The strain elastography provides a simple and qualitative measure of lesion stiffness corresponding to the surrounding tissue.

·         syngo Velocity Vector Imaging

syngo Velocity Vector Imaging technology is an advanced technology which enable clinicians to examine the mechanical functions of the myocardium to detect possible dysfunctions. The technology uses individual vectors to display direction and relative velocity of frame-to-frame tissue movements enabling visualization, measurement, and display of myocardial mechanics like never before!

·         Stress Echo

Stress echo test determines the health of heart at rest and after it is stressed to help diagnose coronary artery disease and see how well the heart pumps blood and valves work. Stress echo test uses sound waves to make moving pictures of heart. ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system comprises of comprehensive and flexible stress echo package, including configurable stress echo protocols and wall motion scoring features.

·         Left Ventricular Opacification

The intuitive touch-screen layout has been streamlined to include necessary functions for cardiac studies. With no visual clutter, the user can focus on images rather than interfaces.

In addition to these features, ACUSON Redwood has a portable and light-weight design, which offers mobility and easy transport across various clinical departments. The ultrasound system can be utilized for the diagnosis of Abdominal, Paediatric, OB-GYN, Cardiac, Vascular, Urology, Neonatal, Musculoskeletal and Small Parts (Breast, Testis, Penile, Thyroid interventions.

Detailed Competition Analysis of ACUSON Redwood Ultrasound System

Diagnostic Imaging

Seimens Healthineers patented Auto Flash Suppression Technology provides accurate detailing and excellent contract across a wide range of applications. Philips incorporates MaxVue Remarkable visualization technology in its ultrasound system, which provides extraordinary display of anatomy with 1,179,648 additional image pixels compared to a standard 4:3 display format mode.  Thus, MaxVue technology provides 38% more display to optimize the display of dual, side/side, biplane, and scrolling imaging modes. Besides, Cannon’s premium ultrasound systems, Aplio a-series, which includes the a550 and a450 provide a wide-view of the scan to see more anatomy while acquiring images quickly with precise depth and detail and maintaining high image quality.

Accessibility

The light-weight design of ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system enhances the mobility of the device for various clinical operations but it does not offer the flexibility of remote operation like GE Healthcare’s Vscan Air Wireless Handheld Ultrasound. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pressure on health systems, handheld devices serve as an essential tool to enhance operationability of medical imaging devices outside the medical settings. The wireless pocket-sized ultrasound system provides crystal clear image quality and whole-body scanning—all in the palms of physician’s hands. Handheld ultrasound system provides the benefits of portability, cleanability, and workflow efficiency. The user-tested design includes software pre-sets for fast scanning, intuitive set-up, single-button for easy image capture and freezing so users can pair the probe and start scanning immediately.

Customization Flexibility

The interchangeable transducers portfolio allows physicians to use the probe in ACUSON Sequoia platform. Also, Siemen Healthineers offer customizable measurement package for shared service cardiology and adult and paediatric imaging. Offering ultimate customization and personalized system positioning with FleXstyle, Aplio i-series by Cannon Medical System enables easy sonographer adaptation and operation flexibility. The ultrasound system also features a programmable touchscreen panel for tailored layout and electric lifting for intuitive workflow and Healthy Sonographer ergonomics.

Transducer/Probe Design

ACUSON Redwood Ultrasound system has a super-sensitiveprobe to catch even the minutest sound wave for accurate representation of lesion and proper medical diagnosis. Aplio’s i-series micro convex transducer with iDMS technology provides excellent spatial resolution and its small footprint is ideal for technically difficult patients with limited imaging window. Another Cardiac Multi-Frequency iDMS offered by Cannon has 2-in-1 transducer covering frequency range of 2 existing transducer for neonatal and paediatric cardiac. However, 33 MHz Ultra-High Frequency iDMS Linear by Cannon provides extremely fine detail in the near field, allowing its use for examining the minovascularity of superficial structures. Philips also offers a broad range of transducers in multiple configurations, enabling better penetration with less artifacts.

Workflow

Siemens Healthineers’s ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system enhances efficiency for smart workflow, increase patient throughput, more productivity without sacrificing quality. The connected reported systems in newer generation ultrasound system streamline the workflow process. In 2018, Canon Aplio 900 CV was designed with 40% fewer keys to simplify workflow and was 50% lighter than previous Toshiba echo systems. GE Healthcare Logiq introduced automated lesion segmentation to enhance productivity via automation.

Conclusion

Moving beyond 2-D and 3-D imaging to offer new ways of reconstructing images can speed up evaluation and speed up the process of understanding the visual. The new ACUSON Redwood ultrasound system guarantees enhanced visualization with contrast and detailed anatomical representations. Even GE Healthcare’s fetalHQ heart has a Radiant Flow feature that shows the blood in 3-D view. Philip’s TrueVue also offer photo-realistic rendering and allows user to change shadows and add more depth perception. The Cannon Aplio 900 CV system also launched quad-chamber tracking feature to visualize the heart with echo. As the innovations will continue to expand, physicians can compare ultrasound with other imaging modalities while choosing the best and more powerful system to plan interventional procedures.

According to TechSci research report, “Global Diagnostic Imaging Market By Product Type ( Architecture (Open/Closed), By Field Strength (High and Very-High Field MRI Systems), By Systems (Ultrasound Systems, Nuclear Imaging Systems, X-Ray Imaging Systems, CT Scanner, MRI System, Mammography System, Fluoroscopy), By Portability (Stationary, Portability), By Application (OB/Gyn, Orthopaedic, Musculoskeletal, Neuro &Spine, General Imaging, Cardio &Thoracic, Breast health, Others), By End Users (Hospitals, Diagnostic Imaging Centres, Others), By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2016-2026F”, the Global Diagnostic Imaging Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.72% during the forecast period, owing to rising geriatric population and new innovation in medical devices.