Noninvasive, Radiation-Free Pulmonary Imaging Designed for the Emergency Room

The system is setting a new standard in the evaluation of patients presenting with dyspnea in the emergency department (ED) utilizing unique vibration response imaging technology.

Deep Breeze, Ltd. (Or-Akiva, Israel), the developer of vibration response imaging (VRI) technology, announced that it is launching its VRIxp lung imaging system for aiding in diagnosis and monitoring in the emergency department (ED). The company will announce the U.S. launch at The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP 2010) annual meeting from September 28-October 1, held in Las Vegas, NV, USA.

The VRI technology is based on one of the oldest known examination techniques, lung auscultation with a stethoscope. The featured VRIxp system provides new clinical information that can aid in the diagnosis and management of a variety of lung conditions, such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. The radiation-free VRI technology provides an objective measure of regional lung function and is mobile, so it can easily be used to provide information at the bedside and at the fingertips for fast, effective results.

"Establishing an accurate diagnosis early on has a significant clinical and financial impact. The sooner the patient receives the right treatment, the better the outcomes potentially get. Early diagnosis will also help alleviate ED overcrowding through more efficient patient disposition,” said Charles Pollack, M.D., chair, department of emergency medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA).

"The launch of the VRIxp system in the U.S. for ED physicians is an important step for us as a company. The VRIxp will bring objectivity and simplicity to ED physicians as they diagnose and treat patients presenting with dyspnea, and hopefully improve throughput in the ED,” said David Barton, president of Deep Breeze, USA.

The noninvasive and radiation-free lung imaging system records lung sounds from patented V-array sensors applied to a patient's back. The system then uses advanced alterations in tissue composition and airflow affect the vibration of sounds within the lung, which is reflected in the image and results produced by the VRIxp system.

"The VRIxp system is a unique, noninvasive tool that enables physicians to triage and manage patients rapidly and accurately, and potentially decrease length of stay in the ED, stratify patients, and improve patient outcomes,” said Rita Cydulka, M.D., professor and Vice-Chair, department of emergency medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center (Cleveland, Ohio, USA).

The procedure takes only minutes in the ED setting and may be performed repeatedly to monitor the effect of treatments. Results are seen by the physician immediately and can be stored in a system database for future use. The radiation-free technology has been used in more than 3,500 patients worldwide without a single adverse event.

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