Philips receives U.S. FDA clearance to its solution for 'small parts' ultrasound imaging

 Royal Philips announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the new eL18-4 transducer with full solution for 'small parts' assessment, which is an ultrasound exam to detect abnormalities in the small organs that are close to the skin. The Philips Ultimate Small Parts Solution features four key innovations that work together to help improve patient care: the eL18-4 PureWave linear array transducer, Philips MicroFlow Imaging, Philips Elastography and Philips Precision Biopsy. The new eL18-4 transducer can also be used to assess musculoskeletal injuries.  Philips will debut this latest solution, which is available on Philips EPIQ 7 and 5 and Affiniti 70 ultrasound systems, at the 16^th World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) Congress in Taipei.

A vital tool for improving patient care, small parts imaging is a rapidly growing segment of ultrasound examinations for clinicians around the world. Its broad set of applications include assessment of diseases and disorders of small organs such as breasts, testicles and thyroid, as well as musculoskeletal injuries like sprains and tears. High-resolution ultrasound, such as that available on Philips EPIQ and Affiniti solutions, allows clinicians to visualize and characterize abnormalities and evaluate organ blood flow, guide treatment and perform biopsies of suspicious lesions.

"The superb image quality derived from Philips' breakthrough, ultra-broadband frequency transducer along with full solution Elastography support, helps clinicians make confident clinical decisions driven by an exam that is easier to perform," said Vitor Rocha, Ultrasound Business Leader at Philips. "With the new Philips Ultimate Small Parts Solution, clinicians now have the power to comprehensively assess and treat small parts and deliver better care for their patients with all-in-one functionality."