Diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring  

Esaote harnesses TI DSP chips to deliver new range of medical diagnostic systems

20 November 2006

Houston, USA and Munich, Germany. Italian company Esaote S.p.A. has created a range of medical diagnostic devices, including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiograms (ECGs) using digital signal processing (DSP) technology from Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) (TI).

"TI offers a broad, compatible product portfolio that enabled us to develop several very different devices using a variety of DSPs but with the same tools and development environment," said Marco Brusaca, Ultrasound R&D manager at ESAOTE. "This was fundamental to our success because it permitted us to leverage industry-best performance, power consumption and price where needed while simplifying the development cycle, allowing us to focus on the new applications and features that truly differentiate our product lines."

Esaote's new MyLab XVision Series of ultrasound systems products are based on TI DSPs. The XVision products provide exceptional resolution and feature highly sophisticated technologies including XStrain advanced cardiac technique for myocardial function evaluation, Virtual Navigator tracking system for interventional imaging and 4D advanced technology for detailed obstetric and general purpose evaluations. The new modular systems have compact profiles to ensure portability and include such innovative features as tilting LCD monitors. Exceptional diagnostic performance and maneuverability allow them to be used in nearly unlimited hospital applications and they are ideally suited for mobile services.

G-scan, Esaote's new open and tilting MRI system for all musculoskeletal applications is easy to use and features a low break-even point, making MRI affordable for those medical facilities that have a reduced MRI case load.

Esaote's new ECG product line can function as stand-alone units or as part of larger, high-performance networks that allow cardiologists to integrate and manage data from multiple diagnostic applications. This functionality and flexibility are made possible by harnessing TI DSPs. The new ECGs can be connected to other units or linked to a PC to expand archiving and processing functions and to provide maximum connectivity. They can be linked with external low-cost PC printers and communication modules, thus allowing it to compete in cost sensitive applications, such as low cost 12-channel electrocardiography and telemedicine.

"Esaote is tapping into the performance, power and price points of our fixed-point and floating-point DSP devices to create cutting-edge medical diagnostic equipment that is available to everyone," said Cyril Clocher, DSP Catalog business development manager EMEA at Texas Instruments. "We look forward to working with them in the future as they further push the boundaries of healthcare information systems."

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