From Ultralink LLC;
'Artemis is a very high frequency (VHF) ultrasound eye scanner. In use, the patient leans forward placing their head onto an adjustable headrest. The headrest's unique design permits the patient to pull away quickly from the scanner if desired. An eyecup filled with a saline-based interface fluid couples the ultrasound signal to the eye, while a precision mechanism moves the transducer past the front of the eye. During the accurately controlled arc motion of the transducer, which lasts less than one second, many thousands of ultrasound samples are digitized. Following a scan, signal analysis is performed on a PC-compatible microcomputer, and the data are available for immediate viewing on an LCD monitor or disk storage. Artemis is very flexible; many adjustments to the scanning parameters are possible to customize the scan to your clinical needs. Functions are provided for centering the scan about the optical axis of the eye. The starting location of the scans as well as the extent can be varied as desired, to view image planes through the eye at different angles.'

See also Ultrasound Biomicroscopy, A-Mode and A-Scan.

Ultrasound waves are reflected when there is a change in acoustic impedance. The larger the change, the more ultrasound is reflected. Microbubbles have an enormous difference in acoustic impedance as compared to surrounding fluid due to the large differences in density, elasticity and compressibility.
At low acoustic power (mechanical index less than 0.1), the mechanism of ultrasound reflection is that of Rayleigh scattering and the microbubbles may be regarded as point scatterers. The scattering strength of a point scatterer is proportional to the sixth power of the particle radius and to the fourth power of the ultrasound frequency;; the echogenicity of such contrast agent is therefore highly dependent upon particle size and transmit frequency. The backscattered intensity of a group of point scatterers is furthermore directly proportional to the total number of scatterers in the insonified volume. The concentration of the contrast medium is of importance.

See also Backscatter Energy, Cross-section Scattering.

[This entry is marked for removal.]

From POINT Biomedical Corp
BiSphere™ is a technology for drug delivery applications by ultrasound. BiSpheres™ consists of microparticles comprising a shell of an outer layer of a biologically compatible material and an inner layer of biodegradable polymer. The core of the microbubbles contains a filling gas, liquid, or solid for use in drug delivery or as a contrast agent for ultrasonic contrast imaging. The contrast agent particles are capable of passing through the capillary systems of a subject. The drug-loaded biSpheres™ would be administered intravenously and freely circulate throughout the body, while the drug encapsulated within would remain biologically unavailable. The drug would only be released when the biSpheres become flooded when passing through an externally directed ultrasound field.
The use of biSpheres™ to transport agents to specific sites within the body is expected to substantially increase local efficacy while decreasing systemic side effects or adverse reactions. The biSpheres™ may also serve to protect labile agents from metabolism or degradation. The noninvasive release of a protected, encapsulated agent can be controlled by ultrasound imaging to a depth of 20-30 cm from the skin surface.
The flexibility in size control in the biSphere™ technology has enabled the construction of submicron ultrasound contrast agents suitable for lymphatic imaging, with a diameter in the submicron range. This agent, while much smaller in size than CardioSphere®, is based on the BiSphere configuration: a shell within a shell enclosing a gas. The inner layer, made from a biodegradable polymer, provides the physical structure and controls the acoustic response. The outer layer functions as the biological interface. Each of these layers has been independently tailored to fulfill the specific requirements for lymphatic imaging.

From Verathon Inc.;
'The BladderScan® BVM 6500 enables physicians quickly and noninvasively to determine UEBW (ultrasound estimated bladder weight) and bladder volume using 3-dimensional V-mode® ultrasound. The BVM 6500 was designed to assist in diagnosis of bladder hypertrophy secondary to obstruction.'

See also Urologic Ultrasound, Mirror Artifact, Pelvic Ultrasound, Transrectal Sonography and Ultrasonography.

The Italian based company is a member of the Bracco Group.
In 1988 Ote-Biomedica Elettronica S.p.A. and the biomedical division of Esacontrol S.p.A. were consolidated into a single company, Esaote Biomedica S.p.A., operating as a division of IRI-Finmeccanica.
In 1987 the company began marketing its products in the United States through Biosound Inc., which it subsequently acquired in 1990.
In the 1990's, the company began to strengthen its presence in Europe, establishing Esaote Biomedica France Sarl and Esaote Biomedica Deutschland GmbH.
In July 1994 business activities and assets of Esaote Biomedica S.p.A. were transferred to the new company Esaote S.p.A.
1995-1998 the Bracco Group becoming the main Esaote shareholder with 50% of the share capital.
In February 1997, Esaote established Esaote China Ltd. located in Hong Kong, and in April 1998 acquired Pie Medical Group, based in Maastricht - The Netherlands, which primarily operates in medical diagnostic ultrasound. Esaote-Pie Medical, is exclusively dedicated to the development and marketing of veterinary diagnostic ultrasound equipment.
GE Healthcare is the exclusive U.S. distributor of devices manufactured by Esaote Biomedica.

'The Esaote Group is a global leader in research, production and marketing of medical diagnostic equipment and related services focused on solving the medical needs of our customers worldwide. With over 16% of its employees actively engaged in Research & Development, Esaote is pursuing new diagnostic technologies to be introduced in international healthcare markets.'

Ultrasound Related Product Lines:
For products dedicated to the veterinarian practice see Esaotes Pie Medical Equipment B.V.
For products distributed in the United States see Biosound Esaote, Inc.

Ultrasound Systems: