September 4, 2007 - The first few minutes are instrumental in emergency situations and a new portable ultrasound device from Siemens Medical Systems will help clinicians in these efforts.
The Acuson P10 is a hand-held device intended for complementary initial diagnostic care and triage, particularly in cardiology, emergency care and obstetrics. It is poised to change the physical exam by providing immediate information to healthcare providers at the earliest possible patient intervention points, such as intensive care units, ambulances and medical helicopters. The advantages of the new system are its portability, easy handling as well as its fast and consistent availability to the physician. The device is barely larger than a Blackberry and weighs a little more than 700 grams.
The device could translate into earlier, faster and more accurate screening and triage decisions. Its emergency applications include FAST (Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma) for detecting fluid, determining cardiac activity and pericardial effusion as well as for detecting abdominal aortic aneurysms and performing pelvic exams.
�Instead of having to rush the patient to the technology, P10 brings the technology to the patient, which can reduce critical minutes, particularly when a patient is in cardiac distress or with trauma patients, who have multiple injuries,� said Klaus Hambuechen, head of the Ultrasound Division of Siemens Medical Solutions. �The flexibility and portability of the P10 mark significant changes in the way diagnostic and emergency care are administered, changes that could alter the face of the physical exam and, ultimately, lead to better patient outcomes.�
In addition to cardiac and emergency care, the ACUSON P10 offers applications in other medical specialties, most notably obstetrics where it can be used during labor and delivery. Specifically, the device can determine fetal viability, fetal positioning, amniotic fluid volume, bleeding and miscarriage.
The system is equipped with a black-and-white monitor and delivers information via a flip-up LCD display that measures 3.7 inches diagonally. The user interface is optimized for using only the thumbs to navigate, similar to a personal digital assistant (PDA). The ACUSON P10's lithium ion batteries enable approximately one hour of scanning without recharging.
For more information: www.medical.siemens.com
