Selon l'Office fédéral de la statistique, plus d'un tiers des Suisses a des problèmes de poids. Selon l'enquête sur la santé de 2002, 2,2 millions de Suisses sont trop gros. Ces personnes représentent un véritable défi dans le domaine de l'imagerie médicale. En effet, un examen approndi des organes inférieurs de ces personnes est rendu extrêmement difficile et est même parfois impossible. Aujourd'hui, à l'occasion de l'European Concress of Radiology (ECR) de Vienne, Philips présente un nouvelle sonde à ultrasons conçue pour résoudre ce problème. Une nouvelle technologie permet de corriger les déformations qui apparaissent à l'écran quand un patient présente une épaisse couche de graisse sous la peau ou au niveau des organes internes. On obtient donc des images de meilleure qualité. Des premiers tests réalisés en milieu hospitalier ont montré que grâce à cette technique, la durée de l'examen peut être réduite de jusqu'à 38%. La nécessité de procéder à des examens de tomographie ou de résonance magnétique supplémentaires en complément aux échographies de mauvaise qualité a nettement baissé – dans l'un des hôpitaux participant aux tests, la baisse a même été de 69%. Cela permet de réaliser des économies de coûts dans le domaine de la santé. Les résultats de ces études reposent sur les résultats obtenus dans six hôpitaux aux Etats-Unis et en Europe, qui ont examiné chacun 50 à 75 patients obèses avec la nouvelle sonde. Vous trouverez de plus amples informations dans le communiqué de presse ci-dessous (en anglais): New technology to help hospitals cope with extra challenges of obese patients launched in Europe today Soaring rates of obesity have prompted the launch of a new device that allows clinicians to better “see through” extra fat in overweight patients to better diagnose disease. The new technology, launched for the first time in Europe today, corrects for distortion of ultrasound waves that occurs when patients have high levels of fat under the skin and around their internal organs. The result is clearer sharper images even of deep-seated organs which helps improve the accuracy and efficiency of scanning this difficult group of patients. In initial tests the new Philips device was found to help cut examination times by up to 38 percent.1 It also reduced the need for other follow-up scans, because of inadequate images, in up to 69 percent of cases.1) The new C5-1 PureWave transducer – the part of the system that both receives and emits the ultrasound waves - was launched for the first time in Europe today at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna, Austria. The device, which works with the existing Philips iU22 ultrasound system, was specifically designed to make it easier for healthcare providers to care for obese patients while helping cut costs associated with treating them. Obesity levels are rising across Europe, creating new challenges for healthcare systems. A study by the International Association for the Study of Obesity last year found that among EU countries, Germany has the most overweight women and men. Among adults, the study found that 58.9 percent of German women are overweight; 75.4 percent of men are carrying excess pounds.2) In trials at six sites in North America and Europe, teams were asked to complete scans on 50 to 75 technically difficult patients each using the C5-1 PureWave transducer. Most saw significant reductions in scanning times with one finding examination duration fell by 38 percent. There was also a drop in the need for additional CT or MR examinations because of inadequate ultrasound quality – in one centre such follow-up procedures fell by 69 percent. The C5-1 PureWave transducer is just one of the ways in which Philips is responding to new challenges resulting from lifestyle issues such as obesity to help improve patient care and meet the changing needs of healthcare providers. The company also produces an open MRI scanner called the Panorama HFO, which as well as enabling claustrophobic patients to have scans also benefits larger patients, who would not otherwise be able to fit inside a traditional machine. Also, the company’s revolutionary PET/CT system, the Gemini TF, can perform whole-body scans on obese patients in less than 10 minutes, compared to 15 minutes or longer using conventional systems. References:
1). See enclosed document: Results of a Technically Difficult Patient Study
2). International Association for the Study of Obesity website | 