HP Introduces Advanced Diagnostics for HP SONOS 5500 Echocardiography Ultrasound System

PALO ALTO, CALIF. (March 8) BW HEALTHWIRE -March 8, 1999-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced breakthrough enhancements for its flagship echocardiography ultrasound system -- the HP SONOS 5500. The advanced-diagnostics package for the SONOS 5500 includes exclusive HP technologies and applications for non-invasive assessment of cardiac anatomy, function and viability, as well as comprehensive information-management solutions.

The HP SONOS platform, introduced in 1988, has emerged as the leading cardiovascular-ultrasound solution in the industry. In less than two years after its introduction, global shipments of the HP SONOS 5500 system have exceeded 3,000 units.

"The HP SONOS 5500 is the cardiovascular-ultrasound solution by which all other systems are measured," said Greg Petras, general manager of HP's Imaging Systems Division. Anatomy

HP Fusion Imaging and Ultraband transducer technologies deliver the maximum image quality for the assessment of cardiac anatomy. The HP SONOS 5500 with advanced diagnostics supports two new Ultraband transducers. The HP Ultraband linear-array transducer features a bandwidth of 11MHz to 3MHz, making it a true "one-probe" solution for arterial and venous imaging. The new HP Ultraband intraoperative linear-array transducer delivers ultra-high-resolution (15MHz to 6MHz) imaging that is optimized for the critical first 3 centimeters to provide excellent detail and tissue differentiation.

Acoustic frame rates on the HP SONOS 5500 have more than doubled, allowing image capture of up to 300MHz. Clinicians can observe subtle motion of a valve, thrombus or vegetation when playing an exam back, frame by frame. Function

The new HP dynamic stress echo package makes it easy for clinicians to define protocols and acquire customized views during pharmacological or exercise stress, with or without contrast agents. Clinicians can capture up to eight stages, eight views and acquire systole-only or complete heart cycles. A host of tools is available to speed exams -- maximizing the immediate-post window.

HP's Acoustic Quantification (AQ) is the industry's only real-time endocardial border-tracking system for the non-invasive, beat-to-beat assessment of myocardial contractility and relaxation. The enhanced AQ package features a simplified graphic display, a more accurate composite waveform, built-in waveform analysis and a detailed global function report page to support the use of AQ in the day-to-day clinical environment. Viability

The HP SONOS 5500 features a complete set of quantitative contrast-imaging capabilities, and the flexibility to perform harmonic imaging in all modalities to help clinicians assess myocardial viability.

New harmonic angio provides ultra-sensitive detection of contrast agents. The multiple-frame trigger dual-image display helps rule out motion artifact vs. true contrast effect. HP's Acoustic Densitometry (AD) package is the only online quantitative-measurement tool that accurately quantifies subtle changes in acoustic-signal intensity due to the presence of a contrast agent -- removing subjectivity from contrast studies. Building the Digital Lab

HP offers a complete set of scalable information-management tools, from on-board image acquisition, review and editing, with new HP Study Manager, to the fully networked HP EnConcert echo information-management solution. Users can store studies on magneto-optical disk or transfer them via the new HP integrated digital interface.

HP EnConcert offers a suite of software applications for acquisition, analysis, reporting, archiving and maintaining of echo data and allows users to share clinical files and images with colleagues around the world through HP's tele-echo solution. About HP's Medical Products Group

HP's Medical Products Group is a worldwide leader of acute-care patient monitoring, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging and clinical-information systems for critical care; as well as services, support and supplies for the healthcare industry. The group has 5,400 employees and had revenues of more than $1.3 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP Medical Products Group can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/medical/. About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 122,800 employees and had revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.

Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

Note to Editors: All reader inquiries for HP should be forwarded to Hewlett-Packard Medical Products, Attn: Julie Deforge, 425 Medford Street, Boston, MA 02129-1420.

-0- ap/sf*

CONTACT: Tony Labriola

          Mullen PR for HP 

(978) 468-1155

          tlabriola@mullen.com 

or

          Dianne Prendible, HP 

(978) 659-2985

          dianne_prendible@hp.com 

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED MEDICINE PRODUCT
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