PRENATAL SCREENING FOR SINGLE-GENE DISORDERS
Vistara®, a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) from Natera, Inc, screens for single-gene disorders after 9 weeks’ gestation. Complementing the Panorama® NIPT, Vistara tests for major anatomic abnormalities and chromosome imbalances that have a combined incidence rate of 1 in 600 (higher than Down syndrome). These mutations can cause severe conditions affecting skeletal, cardiac, and neurologic systems, such as Noonan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, craniosynostosis syndromes, achondroplasia, and Rett syndrome. Standard NIPT commonly cannot detect these de novo (not inherited) mutations. Ultrasound exams may either completely miss the disorders or identify nonspecific findings later in pregnancy.
Natera says that Vistara has a combined analytical sensitivity of >99% and a combined analytical specificity of >99% in validation studies.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.natera.com/vistara
ELECTROSTATIC SURGICAL SMOKE REMOVAL
The UltravisionTM Trocar device from Alesi Surgical Technologies uses a low-energy electrostatic charge to eliminate the surgical smoke generated by cutting instruments during laparoscopic surgery. Electrostatic precipitation accelerates the natural process of sedimentation; Ultravision creates negatively charged gas ions that draw water vapor and particulate matter away from the surgical site toward “positive” patient tissue.
Alesi says that bench studies comparing Ultravision with a vacuum-system when using monopolar, bipolar, and ultrasonic instruments show that its device is faster and more efficient than smoke evacuation. When switched on before cutting, Ultravision precipitates 99% of particles within 30 seconds. After 1 minute of continuous use, Ultravision precipitates 99.9% of particles, independent of particle size, from 7 nm to 10 µm. Smoke evacuation removes 30.2% of particles after 1 minute, according to Alesi.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: http://www.alesi-surgical.com
PRESSURE-SENSING TECHNOLOGY FOR EPIDURALS
The CompuFlo®Epidural from Milestone Scientific uses pressure-sensing technology to identify the epidural space, and provides a computer-controlled drug delivery system.
Knowing the precise needle location during an epidural injection procedure provides a measure of safety not available to physicians who use conventional syringes. Milestone says that its CompuFlo Epidural allows anesthesiologists to use both hands to advance and direct the needle, and to confirm the epidural space with 99% accuracy on the first attempt.
CompuFlo Epidural differentiates tissue types for the medical professional via visual and audio feedback, leading to precise location guidance as the needle advances toward the intended area. It also allows for controlled needle exit pressure, precise flow rate and drug volumes, and patient treatment documentation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.milestonescientific.com/products/compuflo-epidural
OBGYN ULTRASOUND INNOVATIONS
Philips recently announced enhancements to its EPIQ 7 and 5 and Affiniti 70 ultrasound systems. According to Philips, the eL18-4 transducer provides high-detail resolution and image uniformity with penetration for enhanced diagnostic quality in 1st- and 2nd-trimester obstetric exams. aBiometry AssistAI, with anatomical intelligence of fetal anatomy, streamlines fetal measurement by preplacing measurement cursors on selected structures. The new TouchVue control-panel interface on TrueVue allows practitioners to interact with finger gestures and to direct 3D-volume rotation and internal light-source position. The 2D Tilt feature offered on the 3D9-v3 transducer provides lateral scanning of anatomic structures that are off-axis without having to manually angle the transducer.
These new features complement the existing suite of Philips ObGyn ultrasound visualization tools: TrueVue, GlassVue, aRevealAI, and MaxVue.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/resources/feature-detail/ultrasound-truevue-imaging
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