SuperSonic Imagine has announced that it will exhibit its Aixplorer ultrasound system, designed to measure tissue stiffness non-invasively, at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago 4-6 May 2014.
Liver scanning will be performed live on models in SuperSonic Imagine’s booth #3531. This technology reduces the need for many liver biopsies and enables regular monitoring of liver therapy and health.
The company said that its ShearWave Elastography mode is used worldwide to visualize and quantitatively measure (in kilopascals) tissue liver stiffness across the different stages of fibrosis leading up to cirrhosis.
Liver stiffness increases with the severity of liver fibrosis as a general rule, making it an important parameter to help physicians determine what treatment is indicated and when.
This technique can also play an important role in monitoring therapy. Real-time Quantifiable ShearWave Elastography to measure tissue stiffness is available only on the Aixplorer ultrasound system.
With ShearWave Elastography, physicians can determine quantitative liver stiffness values in a non-invasive, easy-to-use exam, which can be safely repeated over time to follow disease progression or regression.
This diagnostic information will help to evaluate the progress and effectiveness of drug therapy, and provide regular and previously unavailable imaging monitoring for complications.
Aixplorer’s exceptional image quality helps hepatologists and radiologists to conduct ultrasound guided liver procedures such as needle placement for biopsy and paracentesis.
SuperSonic Imagine CEO Dr Jacques Souquet said several clinical studies have concluded that ShearWave Elastography is an accurate, reproducible technique to assess liver disease.
"The impact of ShearWave Elastography in liver imaging, both in clinical and economic terms, cannot be underestimated. This technology will enable a major shift in patient management," Souquet added.