SONOWORLD

How do you convince a reluctant orangutan to cooperate when doing a pregnancy scan?
Fresno Zoo comes up with a novel solution...use Guacamole as the couplant.

Remote Control of Brain Activity Using Ultrasound
Transcranial pulsed ultrasound to remotely and directly stimulate brain circuits without requiring surgery.

Creepiest Ultrasound Image Ever
Artist does surreal custom painting based on the ultrasound image of baby

ARFI Elastography Compared with Conventional Ultrasound for Chronic Liver Disease
ARFI elastography showed better diagnostic performance than visual assessment of experienced radiologists for diagnosis of chronic liver disease

Ultrasound Treatment Boosts Antioxidant Levels In Potatoes
Applying ultrasound or electricity to potatoes increased antioxidants such as phenols and chlorogenic acid by as much as 50%. (Source: Medical News Today)

Management of Asymptomatic Ovarian and Other Adnexal Cysts Imaged at US: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement
The SRU convened a panel of specialists from gynecology, radiology, and pathology to arrive at a consensus regarding the management of ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged by ultrasound in asymptomatic women. Source: Radiology journal

Two new studies find two nuclear-based breast imaging exams expose women to far higher doses of radiation than mammography
Concerns raised about inappropriate use of breast-specific gamma imaging (B.S.G.I.) and positron emission mammography (P.E.M.) Source: New York Times

Grant awarded to researcher to explore use of stem cells and ultrasound to regenerate dental roots
A University of Alberta dentistry professor has received a $1-million grant to continue his research into restoring damaged dental roots using ultrasound and stem cells. (Source, CBC News, Canada)

Compulsory competency-based ultrasound training programme for obstetricians and gynaecologists in UK.
The new training programme is mandatory for doctors undergoing speciality training in obstetrics and gynaecology and is now being implemented nationally. ... much of the training will be delivered by sonographers. Curriculum modules are available for download. (Source: RCOG Press Release)

Nanoscale Diagnostic Ultrasound
Scientists and Engineers at The University of Nottingham have built the world's smallest ultrasonic transducers capable of generating and detecting ultrasound. (Source: Univ. Nottingham, UK Press Release) 

Print to an ordinary inkjet printer from your ultrasound scanner?
Epson America and Royal Philips Electronics announced a partnership to make Philips ultrasound medical imaging equipment compatible with Epson inkjet and WorkForce all-in-one printers via the ESC/P-R universal print driver. (Source: eWeek News - Epson press release)

Photoacoustic tomography and gold nanoparticles team up for better detection of melanoma
In Vivo Molecular Photoacoustic Tomography of Melanomas Targeted by Bioconjugated Gold Nanocages

Simple Ovarian Cysts in Menopausal Women
Overview of Prevalence, Incidence, and Natural History of Simple Ovarian Cysts Among Women > 55 Years Old in a Large Cancer Screening Trial. Study concludes "simple ovarian cysts rarely progress to cancer and therefore may be followed conservatively among menopausal women". (Source: Medscape)

Research suggests Ultrasound followed by CTA for TIA/Stroke
Duplex ultrasound followed by CTA if the ultrasound is positive proved to be the most efficient and cost effective for patients with TIA or stroke and suspected carotid artery stenosis. (Source: Cardiovascularbusiness.com)

Researchers combine high-intensity focused ultrasound with magnetic particles to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier
Researchers report using focused ultrasound to temporarily disrupt the blood-brain barrier, coupled with use of magnetic fields to direct magnetically charged nanoparticles carrying therapeutic drugs to the target area within the brain. (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

New Meta-Analysis Study Concludes Bubble Contrast for Echo is Safe
Study to be published in American Journal of Cardiology titled Meta-Analysis of Adverse Cardiovascular Events Associated With Echocardiographic Contrast Agents concludes "...use of contrast agents for echocardiography is safe and not associated with a greater incidence of myocardial infarction or an

NHS in UK sponsors training of "Accredited AAA Screening Technicians"
University of Salford will provide training for the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (NAAASP). (Source: lynnnews.co.uk)

UC Irvine School of Medicine gives incoming med students iPads.
Planned additions include digital stethoscope and handheld ultrasound unit. (Source: UCI Press Release)

Global Ultrasound Market Weathers Economic Storm
Growth in Asia reduced impact of global economy. Return to growth projected for this year. Asia Pacific forecast to become largest world market for ultrasound by 2011. (Source: InMedica Press Release)

Philips acquires Shanghai Apex Electronics
Philips purchases China-based manufacturer of ultrasound transducers for "value" segment of the market. Acquisition extends Philips capability to meet needs of emerging markets. (Source: TradingMarkets.com)

Portable Ultrasound System To Provide Obstetric Scanning In Southern Sudan
Southern Sudan has ... the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. An ACUSON P10™ handheld ultrasound system from Siemens Healthcare has been selected to perform obstetric scanning in a newly renovated healthcare facility in the town of Yei in Southern Sudan. (Source: medicalnewstoday.com

Treatment for Carotid Stenosis Varies by Region
A study that looked at Medicare patients over three years found that patients in some areas of the U.S. were more likely to undergo endarterectomy while others were more likely to receive stents. (Source: MedpageToday)

FutureTech: Ultrasound Guided Biopsy by Robot
Engineers at Duke University have created a robot that can use 3D ultrasound to locate a test lesion in simulated human organs, guide a biopsy device to the lesion and take multiple samples during a single session

Ultrasound Guidance Facilitates Femoral Access, Cuts Complications
Ultrasound resulted in fewer insertion attempts, improved first pass success, reduced venipuncture, and shorter time to access compared with fluoroscopy but increases odds of successful cannulation only in patients with high femoral artery bifurcations.

Use of hospital equipment to scan pregnant dog creates controversy
Canadian health care facility “embarrassed” after story emerges that a staffer inappropriately used an emergency-department ultrasound scanner on a pregnant pet dog.

Baby scan home videos should be stopped
Society of Radiographers in the UK issued a statement discouraging patients and partners from using mobile phones or video cameras to record ultrasound examinations of pregnant mums.

Woman Pregnant With 2 Babies Due a Week Apart
Dual pregnancy with fetuses of different gestational ages in uterus didelphys.

Ultrasound Waves May Help Brain Disorders
Columbia Univ. bioengineer Elisa Konofagou is making waves when it comes to researching treatments for degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These aren't just any waves; they're ultrasound waves.

GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics Re-launches Optison™ Contrast Agent
GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics announced the market reintroduction of Optison™ (Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres Injectable Suspension, USP), a diagnostic ultrasound contrast agent for use in select echocardiograms. (Source: PRNewswire/GE Press Release)

Lantheus Launches DEFINITY® Ultrasound Contrast Imaging Agent in India
Company Expands Global Availability of DEFINITY® through Distributor J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.