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Since the seventies, continuous research and the genius of experienced men and
women of technology have made impressive achievements in the biomedical field
of ULTRASOUND IMAGING a reality.
Special thanks to all Esaote People who cooperated with us on this important Project:
with the contribution from both Men and Women, it became a Reality.
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A History of People and Technology: 30 Years of Technological Evolution (1975-2005) ................................................................................ 5
ECHOVISOGRAPH .................................................................................................................................................................. 30
ECHOPROCESSOR .................................................................................................................................................................. 31
ECHOSCAN .......................................................................................................................................................................... 32
AU 420 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 37
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A History of People and Technology
30 Years of Technological Evolution (1975-2005)
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The Company: Esaote, started in the seventies
The Man: Carlo Castellano - Chairman/Managing Director
The Idea: to invest in new medical technology, combining standard electronic
components with new technologies to create high-end performance medical
equipment accessible to all. Being able to offer products that are affordable
to every kind of customer increases the use of non-invasive diagnostic imaging
worldwide.
The Challenge: started in Italy (Genoa and Florence) and then expanded into
Europe (Maastricht), now present in the worldwide market.
The Strategy: in 1986 the strategic plan is presented. It involves easy-to-
move products targeted at the private cardiovascular market. The possibility
to offer Color Doppler as an optional module dedicated to all diagnostic
applications increases the products’ value.
The Action: the acquisition of OTE Biomedica provides the industrial capability
to produce new products and technologies at competitive costs. Following
the industrial policy driven by Andrea Oberti, the acquisition of Pie Medical
adds new knowledge in low-end ultrasound products and in dedicated software
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for the quantification of cardiovascular diseases.
The Target: today the company is specialized in the development and
manufacturing of ultrasound equipment designed to offer:
• high diagnostic and multipurpose capabilities
• new technologies in mid-range products
• innovative design and new easy-to-use standards in all systems
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All the company’s activities are aimed at producing new ultrasound equipment
at excellent price performance ratios, while widening the opportunities to
expand sales into all clinical applications.
Esaote As a Whole
Esaote is changing. Despite an expanding ‘World of Esaote’, it still remains
the major European ultrasound producer with all its main facilities based
in Europe.
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Many of the most dramatic changes and new technological innovations in
healthcare have occurred in the last 20 to 30 years, a time when Esaote’s
biomedical engineers started to achieve concrete results in their diagnostic
imaging research. These advances play such a vital role in modern medicine
that it is difficult to imagine how it used to be before their introduction.
Esaote’s strategic marketing, driven by Fabrizio Landi, has brought the
company’s focus to medium-range products while paying special attention
to the price performance ratio. This strategy has become the key to Esaote’s
success and characterizes the overall trend in the global ultrasound market,
nationally and internationally.
Esaote’s engineers developed highly sensitive color Doppler systems, harmonic
imaging, echocardiography and ultrasound contrast agents, as well as
compact ultrasound systems with miniature components.
The company is determined to continue doing its best in the future, to ensure
that the customer continues to choose Esaote because of the unforgettable
day-to-day imaging experience with the systems.
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Innovation Becomes a Day-to-Day Reality
High diagnostic and multipurpose capabilities
The company’s R&D department is a unique combination of the strengths of three research
groups: in Florence, the R&D group is specialized in the Cardiovascular application segment,
in Genoa the R&D group is involved in General Purpose Imaging and in Maastricht the R&D team
focuses on smaller systems for the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Veterinary markets.
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With the recent expansion of the product-range, Esaote’s additional services
and performances have been increased. The company has been listening
carefully to what the customers want. Placing the customers’ values and
confidence in the products’ reliability has always been the way things have
been done at Esaote, and that will continue into the future.
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New technologies in mid-range products
In 30 years of history, Esaote has produced an impressive number of new
patents and proprietary technologies.
The company has often been the pioneer in advanced technologies that are
now standard in all products present in the market, for example, annular
technology with dynamic variable aperture. The engineering group in Florence
introduced the concept within cardiac ultrasound of focusing the annular
arrays, while having the possibility to optimize the ultrasound beam in all
fields of view (dynamic focusing). This enhances the image quality substantially
in all applications.
In 1992, the research team in Genoa found the solution to combining high
image resolution with high frequency capability to improve penetration
and field of view. A new synergy between image resolution and field of view
penetration in deeper image layers was created. Additionally, the innovative
technology of broadband arrays allows the use of multiple frequencies on
the same probe and offers the possibility to select between resolution and
penetration without having to change probe.
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Maastricht, R&D Team (1995)
In 1993, the Maastricht R&D group presented the first Wall Track System to
measure blood vessel wall properties. The team was able to transform this
research tool into an advanced commercial product, which has become a
gold standard in all scientific ultrasound examinations oriented to access
vascular risks.
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In 1994, the Genoa R&D group presented the first multipurpose system with
frequencies up to 20 MHz, the AU4 Idea ultrasound system. This was the fruit
of ten years of research on innovative technologies in transducers and created
a new standard in small parts clinical diagnoses.
In the year 1995, the Florence R&D team presented the first truly complete
multipurpose ultrasound system with annular, linear and convex capabilities
with reduced dimensions and innovative ergonomics. The AU3 became the
best-selling Esaote product worldwide.
Recently, there has been substantial research carried out on tissue
characterization, in order to make better use of the extremely rich amount
of information that comes back with the echo signal. So far, ultrasound
scanners have only made use of the intensity information, which is the basis
of the construction of the traditional B-Mode image.
The frequency and phase content of the echo is mostly discarded (except in
Doppler examinations) for the simple reason that its interpretation would be
very difficult and that current ultrasound systems do not have enough
computing power to exploit it fully.
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Genoa, R&D Team (2005)
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Excellent, long-term results in the Italian ultrasound market have been
obtained due to the widespread distribution and customer-focused marketing
and sales strategies managed by Renzo Muzi.
At the same time, the worldwide success of all the products is thanks to a
completely new direct distribution network created by the recently reorganized
International Sales division. Starting in 1992, Esaote became a force in the
international ultrasound market. Carlo Mannelli had been given the challenge
to create an International Sales & Marketing distribution network starting
from the European market and widening to the Far-East countries.
Thanks to the encouraging sales results, Esaote opened direct subsidiaries
in various strategic markets. New offices – such as Biosound-Esaote in the
USA, Esaote France, Esaote Germany, Esaote Spain, Esaote LatinoAmerica,
Esaote China and Esaote Moscow Representative Office for CIS Countries –
arise worldwide. At this point, all independent distributors are closely
connected to the Esaote strategy and are an active part of the Esaote World.
This success makes Esaote the sixth largest medical diagnostic company in
the world with 8% market share of the worldwide ultrasound market.
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Genoa, R&D People at Work (1985-1990)
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Innovative design and new easy-to-use standard in all systems
Even in the design field Esaote has become a leader in innovation: the new
user interface concept with a central trackball and several function keys
became a new standard starting in 1990.
In 1994, the AU4 Idea created a new standard in ergonomics by housing
innovative functions in a reduced dimension system with direct and advanced
peripherals management.
In 2000, the Technos Family systems became the precursor of a new family
of products; one focused on a unique and completely redesigned ergonomic
style with a new fully adjustable keyboard, both in height and rotation.
One of the most important aspects of ultrasound is its unique characteristic
of being simultaneously a flexible, non-invasive, real-time and low-cost
method of diagnostic imaging.
These attributes make it the best choice for monitoring minimally invasive
surgical procedures such as thermo-ablation, and the Esaote engineers know
it. That is why they are continuously focused on designing concrete tools and
optional accessories to facilitate the end user.
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Thirty years have elapsed since the very first Esaote ultrasound system was
conceived by the engineering groups: many imaging experts believe that
compact ultrasound will become dominant within the next 10 years, and
Esaote is actively focused on making this concept a reality.
Past and Future Developments in Diagnostic Imaging
In the last ten years since the celebrations of the centennial (1995) of
diagnostic imaging, the world has witnessed a real breakthrough in the field.
These years have been remarkable for the rate of innovation all people of
technology have brought about.
Present and future trends in diagnostic ultrasound are still influenced by
the significant developments of imaging modalities in the past decades. It
has been noted that more progress had been made in the last quarter of the
first century of imaging than in the previous 75 years (e.g. the almost
simultaneous introduction of CT, MRI and ultrasound, not to mention PET
and SPECT modalities).
But the progress made from 1995 to 2005 has been even more rapid and
incisive, and Esaote has been an active part of it.
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In the core Esaote business – ultrasound – engineers in all facilities have
actively contributed to the momentous transition from analog to digital
hardware.
This has brought an increase in the image quality and in the operational
capabilities of the diagnostic ultrasound system. However, the implications
of this milestone transition go far beyond these two achievements.
Indeed, digital processing immediately offered the possibility to apply
techniques that, although investigated theoretically in the past, never made
it to clinical reality because of their prohibitive cost.
An example of this has been the introduction of harmonic imaging, soon
followed by new techniques to best exploit the availability of ultrasound
contrast agents.
Today, ultrasound is no longer a single imaging modality, but a plurality of
techniques adapted to different clinical needs, and the Esaote engineers
concretely study its potential and implement these technologies in new
products. As is often the case, new developments spur further research and
novel applications.
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Advances in Ergonomics (ESAOTE 1995-2005)
AU3 Partner
MyLab50
AU5EPI
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Ultrasound imaging is riding a new wave of technology with techniques being
introduced at an accelerated rate, such as those for tissue characterization
based on the analysis of the raw ultrasound signal.
Given the current trend in healthcare towards a “one-stop-shop” approach,
it is anticipated that diagnostic ultrasound will increasingly be used for various
applications: the R&D teams of Esaote operatively represent the continuity
between the past and the future technical discoveries in diagnostic imaging
and its potential developments.
At Esaote, people of technology look and learn from the past while concentrating
on the possibilities for the future.
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ESAOTE: Where People Make the Difference
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Ultrasound Products History
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1978
The first Mono-Probe Ultrasound System
designed and developed in the Florence Lab
for Cardiology and Ob/Gyn applications
Presented at the Worldwide Ultrasound
Congress of Cardiology in Tokyo in 1978
(M. Cerofolini)
ECHOVISOGRAPH
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1980
The first Modular Mono-Probe Ultrasound
Echocardiograph manufactured in the
Florence Lab for Cardiac Imaging
The first Ultrasound System certified by
IMQ to guarantee the full safety for both
patient and operator
The first significant commercial result
in terms of brand image and sales
(M. Cerofolini, E. Trisolini)
ECHOPROCESSOR
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1981
The first Mono-Probe Ultrasound
System (Echovisograph platform)
developed by the Florence Lab for
Ob/Gyn applications
(M. Cerofolini, E. Trisolini)
ECHOSCAN
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1982-83
The first Mechanical Sector
Echocardiograph manufactured in the
Florence Lab for Cardiac Section
Imaging with Portable Version available
(SSI)
(M. Cerofolini, G. Bavaj)
SSI (portable version)
SECTOR IMAGER
Sector Probe
SSI (8300SI)
Sector Imager
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1984
The first Portable Echocardio
Scanner with High Resolution
Mechanical Sector Probes for
Cardiology, Internal Medicine and
Gynecology fields
The first ultrasound system with
External Steerable PW/CW Module
based on FFT analysis
The smallest system in real-time
scanning with 14,4 kg weight
(M. Cerofolini, G. Bavaj)
SIM 3000
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1985
The first Portable General Purpose Ultrasound System
with Annular Array Sector Technology (SIM 4000i)
The National The first Portable Real-Time Cardiac Ultrasound System
Aeronautics & Space with Annular Array Sector Technology (SIM 4000c)
Administration of
America (NASA) invites The smallest size ever seen in Ultrasound Equipment
ESAOTE to start a for both emergency cases and routine examinations
cooperation for an (14,4 kg weight)
Ultrasound System (M. Cerofolini, B. Greppi)
specially dedicated to
Space Missions!
SIM 4000i/c
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1986
The first Multipurpose Ultrasound System
manufactured in the Genoa Lab with High
Frequency Transducers up to 10 MHz
AU 1000 (GP) - ESACORD 90 (Cardio)
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1988
Electronic Ultrasound Scanner manufactured
in the Genoa Lab with High Performance Image
Quality using new technology based on dynamic
receiving filters
The first system to focus up to 192 points in
receiving mode with 10 MHz probe dedicated
to Small Parts exams
(F. Pomata - M. Mazzarella, R. Muzi)
AU 420
B/W imaging
A, B, M Modes
Dynamic receiving filters with up to 192 focus points (high-
performance 10 MHz probe)
3.5-5.0 MHz linear array
Multi-element annular array (mechanical sector)
3.5-5.0-7.5 annular array (mechanical sector) for Cardiology
7.5-10 MHz water path sector probes for Small Parts
Special probes for Intraoperative, Transrectal, Biopsy
applications
Adjustable biopsy marker
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1988
The first Portable General Purpose and
Cardiovascular Ultrasound System with
Annular Array Technology, Integrated
Steerable PW/CW and High PRF
The smallest size
ever seen for
an ultrasound
system
(M. Cerofolini, B. Greppi)
SIM 5000 PLUS
2D - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Dual 2D - Systole/diastole
Duplex system (2D/M-Mode/Doppler PW-HPRF-CW)
Optional high-sensitivity Doppler module based on digital FFT analysis
High-res image quality thanks to dynamic focusing on annular array transducers
Concentric independent time phased rings inside lightweight transducer
Wide range of transducers: annular array (imaging/Doppler PW-HPRF), split element
(imaging/Doppler PW-HPRF-CW) and pedof (Doppler PW-CW)
Precise advanced TGC gain control
M-Mode - Left ventricle
Real-time and off-line advanced measurements/calculations on imaging and M-
Mode/Doppler tracings
Very high memory capability
Easy to upgrade via software
Cardiology, Angiology, Internistic, Pediatrics/Neonatal, Small Parts
Ease of use, flexible, easily integrable inside cart, advanced performances
Innovative design: compact, integrated, lightweight, reduced dimensions
2D/CW Doppler - Aortic steno-insufficiency
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1990
The first Portable Ultrasound Color System with
Multifrequency Annular Array
The technological breakthrough in Advanced Integration:
B-Mode/M-Mode+Color+Stress Echo package
The affordable, reliable, cardiovascular
and True Portable Color
SIM 7000 CFM - Challenge
Annular Probes
Angios Probes
TE Probe
2D, M-Mode
Multi-Mode Color Flow Mapping (CFM) capability
Ultrasensitive steerable PW/CW Doppler
HPRF
2 to 15 MHz annular AA-C multi-element probe family with excellent sensitivity and wider
bandwidth
Panoramic TE probe
High frequency 7.5-10 MHz Angios probe for Vascular exams (TransArray technology)
Multi-channels dynamic phasing and variable aperture for advanced beam focusing
Electronic dynamic focusing
2D and M-Mode high-res zoom
Flexible scrolling
Continuous loop memory
The Portable Color - Unlimited Performance
Digital image archival for off-line analysis and follow-up
Programmable report generator The Challenge to the Highest Quality
Easy and quick measurements Requirements in Cardiovascular Diagnostic
Cardiology, Pediatrics, Neonatalogy, Vascular, Transesophageal, Stress Echo (IMS) Ultrasound
Ergonomic design, light, compact, expandible from a desk top model to a fully configured
system with trolley, RGB high-res monitor and peripherals
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1990
The smallest Multiplane TE Probe with
Annular Array Technology
The innovative design incorporates a
stepping motor in the probe head
Panoramic Multiplane TE Probe
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June 1992 July 1994 July 1995
STS-50 - STS-65 - STS-71
Space Missions:
Annular Probes
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1990
The first Multipurpose Ultrasound B/W System with
Very High Frequency Annular Probe up to 15 MHz.
After 10 years the VHFS technology became a standard
in the Ultrasound field
The first Ultrasound System with Multifrequency
Capability offering two-three frequencies on one only
probe. This new technology became a standard and
overcame the dilemma of combining image
penetration and resolution and offered a real
technological breakthrough in Ultrasound applications
The first Biplane Annular Array Transrectal Probe
with real-time longitudinal and transversal scanning
AU 530
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1992 (ART.LAB 2005)
The first Wall Track System (WTS) manufactured by Esaote
to measure blood vessel wall properties like diameter, change
in diameter (distension) and vessel wall thickness (IMT)
The result of many years of research of the Ultrasound
WALL TRACK SYSTEM - ART.LAB
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1994
The first Multidisciplinary Color Ultrasound
System with four technologies: linear, convex,
phased and annular array
The first Ultrasound system from 2 to 20 MHz
frequency range (VHFS - Very High Frequency
Sonography)
The first unit using a Central Processor with a
clock frequency up to 100 MHz
The first for innovative design with new
keyboard concept (central-positioned trackball
and related functions keys) to select different
functions: it became a standard in all Ultrasound
AU4 IDEA
systems
(F. Pomata, L. Schiavini)
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1994
Multiplane Laparoscopic Probe LP13A
Multiplane imaging
Broadband linear array technology
7.5-10 MHz frequency
Steerable CFM/PW Doppler
Shaft orientation: ± 90°up/down - ± 90°left/right
Operating & angiographic rooms, therapeutic applications
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1994
The first Modular Intraoperative Probe with
multiple configurations available (Esaote patented)
Modular Intraoperative Probe IOE13A
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1995
The Multipurpose System with integrated CFM at
the highest price-performance ratio
The new extended modularity allows the best
configuration vs applications and represents a new
step ahead in versatility and flexibility
Ultrasound for enhanced productivity with
diagnostic confidence
(M. Cerofolini, B. Greppi)
AU3 PARTNER
Multiplane TE Probe
Trolley
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1997
The first Multipurpose Color Ultrasound System
with five technologies: linear array, convex array,
electronic phased array, annular phased array, ultrasound
contrast media processing
(M. Macciò, E. Fontana)
AU5 EPI
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1998
2001
The movable Compact Ultrasound solution with phased, convex and linear array
technology
The ideal equipment for ICUs, bedside examinations, operating theaters and emergency
rooms
(A. Bertini, B. Greppi)
CARIS family
Caris
CarisPlus
CVX
C A R D I O V A S C U L A R
MegasCVX
MegasGPX
GPX
M U L T I D I S C I P L I N A R Y
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1999
2003
The first Digital Beamformer Ultrasound System using Windows®-based platform
The complete range of High-End Multipurpose Ultrasound Systems: Technos
Partner, Technos MP, Technos MPX
Innovative Design followed by all other manufacturers all over the world
Extended multifrequency capability
(M. Brusacà - F. Pomata, M. Macciò - E. Fontana)
TECHNOS family
Technos MPX
Technos MP
Linear/convex/phased array
4-frequencies probes
Advanced transducers (e.g. microconvex, multiplane TE,
intraoperative, laparoscopic, interventional, etc.)
CnTI™ technology for contrast agents management
Diagnosis & therapy module
3D imaging
VPan extended field of view capability
Advanced measurements packages
Very high-res images & very high-sensitivity Doppler
Windows®NT platform
Advanced digital archiving & connectivity
Ergonomic & very innovative design
Picus
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2004
2005
> INTEGRATION
> WORKFLOW
MyLab™ World
MyLab15
Discover
Official MyLab Family Launch
at ECR 2005
MyLab25 (March 4-8 - Vienna, Austria)
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2004
2005
MyLabWorld
Compromise
MyLab15: the premium black & white MyLab30CV & MyLab25: the first
compact system for General Imaging portable ultrasound systems with 15"
and Ob/Gyn, easily upgradable to display offering all Cardiac and General
Color and Doppler Purpose ultrasound features in 9.9 Kg
weight including stress-echo capability
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The first solution where the latest technologies converge to offer the most accurate patient
data management
The daily reality with a modular architecture based on optimized workflow for cost-saving
approach to patient care
The complete integration of different systems and modalities with powerful processing tools
(A. Bertini - M. Brusacà - F. Andreuccetti - M. Lagustena, B. Greppi - M. Macciò - G. Altobelli - W. Luiten)
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2004
2005
The first advanced technique to allow
MyLabWorld a perfect correlation of Ultrasound
and CT/MR Imaging to significantly increase
precision and accuracy of image-guided diagnoses,
follow-up and interventional procedures
(S. De Beni, M. Macciò)
Virtual Navigator
Advanced combination of two different imaging modalities: real-time Ultrasound scanning with contrast media and CT/MR static imaging
DICOM data loading of US/CT/MR standard examinations
Correlation procedure to obtain the best US/CT/MR volume matching thanks to three different techniques:
> skin markers on patients to allow automatic spatial correlations
> manual technique to select random planes
> internal positioning markers to select anatomical structures/pathologies of interest
Controlled navigation to maintain a perfect and precise spatial correlation of CT/MR planes and real-time Ultrasound scanning (image superimposition)
Double biopsy line on US/CT/MR volumes
Measurements capability on US/CT/MR volumes
Identification of internal liver lesions and follow-up in interventional imaging
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We look to the past with our mind on the future
ESAOTE: Where People Make the Difference
833 0745 000 (MA Rev.B)
ESAOTE S.p.A.
Headquarters: Via Siffredi, 58 16153 Genova, ITALY Phone +39-010-6547.1 Fax +39-010-6547.275
International Activities: Via di Caciolle, 15 50127 Firenze, ITALY, Phone +39-055-4229.1, Fax +39-055-4229.208
E-mail: international.sales@esaote.com www.esaote.com