ACC: Siemens Healthineers Introduces Portable Cardiovascular-Dedicated Ultrasound System

At the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual Scientific Session and Expo, Siemens Healthineers launched its new portable cardiovascular ultrasound solution, the ACUSON Bonsai. According to a recent study, 34 million echo exams were performed in the U.S. in 2017.¹ The ACUSON Bonsai addresses the challenge of these increased clinician workloads by providing a portable and quick system, while maintaining high-quality imaging and diagnostic confidence through user-friendly applications. Together with Mindray Medical International Limited, Siemens Healthineers created a cardiovascular-dedicated, maneuverable system to transform the care delivery of routine echo exams.
 
“We are pleased to debut this new offering which will help clinicians meet the growing demands for echocardiography in their practices,” says Peter Pellerito, SVP Ultrasound, Siemens Healthineers North America. “By adding the ACUSON Bonsai to our portfolio, we’ve responded to the needs of our customers by implementing clinical optimization, offering standard cardiology presets, and creating a design that provides the flexibility to scan virtually anywhere, making the ACUSON Bonsai ideal for transforming the care delivery of routine echo exams in fast-paced environments.”
 
In one portable system, the ACUSON Bonsai provides one-touch image optimization and advanced imaging. The system automatically optimizes the ultrasound image with the touch of a button, eliminating the need for manual optimization on the part of the sonographer for improved workflow and image quality consistency. The ACUSON Bonsai also utilizes advanced imaging to optimize specific to routine echocardiograms and cardiovascular workflows. The ACUSON Bonsai is compatible with a comprehensive set of 14 TTE and TEE transducers.
 
The ACUSON Bonsai comes fully loaded with a complete set of user-friendly cardiology applications for fast and easy handling of routine echo exams. Included applications such as “Auto EF” for semi-automatic ejection fraction measurements and “Auto IMT” for automatic intima-media thickness measurements help clinicians acquire measurements in one click, which enables quicker exams and consistent and reproducible results.
 
The ultra-portable and ergonomic user design of the ACUSON Bonsai’s laptop and mobile cart system offers flexibility in scanning locations. The laptop is over 1.7 cm thinner than the industrial average, and its companion cart has a slim design and small footprint for maneuverability. Automated protocols reduce scan times up to 43 percent² and reduce keystrokes up to 75 percent², improving workflows and patient throughput. Raw Data capabilities on the system can also improve scan times and allow for flexibility with image optimization and measurements after the acquisition.
 
References
¹Arlington Medical Research, Echo monitor report 2017
²The Role of a Protocol Management Feature in Improving Ultrasound Lab Efficiency, 2016