Diagnostic Ultrasound Catheter Now Distributed in Europe

Raimund Erbel, M.D., professor of medicine and cardiology, University of Essen (Germany). The catheter, called AcuNav, has recently obtained the CE Mark for distribution in the European Union.

The AcuNav catheter provides real-time mapping of the heart, direct imaging of blood flow, and visualization of other catheters during minimally invasive procedures. In U.S. clinical trials, target cardiac structures were seen with diagnostic quality 100% of the time, according to Acuson (Mountain View, CA, USA), which developed the catheter. The AcuNav, which uses no ionizing radiation, is also able to image the relative position of other devices in the heart. Its ability to image cardiac structures deep within the heart shows potential to expand the utility of ultrasound into areas of electrophysiology, where ultrasound has previously played a limited role.

"For the first time, we have a catheter with advanced ultrasound imaging modes, which enables us to monitor right ventricle and left ventricle function during surgery as well as in the intensive care unit,” said Dr. Erbel. Acuson is a company of Siemens Medical Solutions (Erlangen, Germany).


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