Zone Sonography Technology™ Developer Cited Number One in Image Quality, Ergonomics and Throughput

Mountain View, Calif. – December 20, 2007 – ZONARE Medical Systems, a developer of premium ultrasound systems, today announced it has been ranked Best in KLAS as the top hand carried ultrasound (HCU) vendor in the KLAS Top20: Year-End Report published this week. Previously, the company was ranked number one in the inaugural HCU KLAS study. KLAS, a highly respected research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting the performance of information technology and medical imaging vendors in the healthcare field, continued several studies to incorporate additional customer data in order to determine Best in KLAS for 20 different categories for the year, including the HCU market.

“To be further honored as Best in KLAS for the HCU market, is extremely gratifying since this is based on our own customers’ satisfaction and feedback,” said Donald Southard, president and CEO for ZONARE. “ZONARE has been shipping the zone ultrasound system for just over ten quarters. This significant recognition helps reconfirm the rapidly expanding acceptance of our proprietary Zone Sonography™ technology and Convertible Ultrasound™ platform.”
The 2007 Top20: Year-End report was the result of KLAS’ effort to uncover answers to a number of questions regarding the impact of HCU on the facilities and patient care. With independently reported growth of more than 40 percent in 2006 alone, HCU is the fastest growing segment within the overall ultrasound market and one of the fastest in all diagnostic imaging. ZONARE was cited as number one in image quality, ergonomics and throughput by the KLAS HCU study.

Zone Sonography technology has enabled ZONARE Medical Systems to bring its unique, patented Convertible Ultrasound platform to the industry providing premium image quality and performance together with greater portability at an attractive price to value ratio compared to conventional ultrasound systems. Clinicians are able to convert the z.one system, at the touch of a button, from a full-featured, cart-based system into a premium compact ultrasound system, optimizing its versatility in a variety of clinical settings, without sacrificing image quality or performance.
Unlike most other HCU systems, the z.one system’s Zone Sonography software-based architecture allows its performance to continue to improve as greater processing power becomes available. System upgrades can be downloaded via the internet, allowing for fast, convenient advances in clinical capabilities, enabling clinicians to cost-effectively maintain a state of the art premium ultrasound system.
“We are committed to maximizing our customers’ investment by providing ongoing upgrades to optimize clinical data and workflow efficiencies,” said Mark Miller, vice president of sales and marketing for ZONARE. “The KLAS study provides an excellent measurement of our success in achieving this goal. We will monitor our progress through this ongoing study as we continue to improve our technology and services in support of our customers’ imaging needs.”

About KLAS
KLAS is a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting the performance of information technology and medical imaging vendors in the healthcare field. KLAS has created a database of information on the performance of 300 vendors and 500 products, as judged by executives and clinicians from more than 4,500 healthcare facilities. The company gathers data through written evaluations and confidential interviews, and publishes results regularly. For more information on KLAS, visit www.healthcomputing.com. Copyright © 2007 KLAS Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.

About ZONARE Medical Systems
ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc., is a privately-held company that designs, develops, and manufactures premium performance compact ultrasound solutions, which combine its proprietary technology with an innovative physical design. Zone Sonography technology, ZONARE’s unique patented approach to ultrasound imaging, is focused on bringing premium image quality and performance to clinical settings, leading to advanced diagnostic capabilities, portability, cost-effective operation, maintenance and upgrades, and attractive value to clinicians. For more information, please visit our web site at www.zonare.com.

Contact:
Laurie Hallwyler
ZONARE Medical Systems
lhallwyler@zonare.com
650-248-9081

Brava Medical serves clients across the country

A Tailored Approach to Providing Recruiting Services is Key to Success

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (April 1, 2008) Brava Medical announces the
Formation of a new company that provides high-end recruiting services to both large and
Small clients in the Medical Device, Diagnostic Imaging, and Capital Equipment
Industries. Brava Medical’s approach to meeting clients needs will be to offer an array of
tailored services together with offering clients the option of featuring their company on
Brava Medical’s recently launched premier website designed to attract thousands
Of medical professionals. Brava Medical combines the managerial talents of industry
veterans Rosemary Penn and Betty Phillips who with an elite team of highly savvy Executive Recruiters located in strategic areas of the United States, will be in a position to work one-on-one with clients and candidates.

Brava Medical’s clients can expect an array of tailored services including:
• Value-Added offering to feature the client’s company on Brava Medical Website.
• The client’s message is Brava Medical’s message.
• Final candidates are screened and verified before forwarding to client
• Special and continual follow-up through-out the recruiting process
• Focused personal approach to ensure the “perfect fit.”
• One-on-one customized meetings at national shows with clients.

Betty Phillips with over 30 years experience in the industry describes the Brava Medical charter as follows, “I’ve been a field sales manager, a national accounts manager and business owner and I know how difficult it is to find those “pearls,” those people who can come in and make your team better. Brava Medical understands that companies don’t have the time or resources for exhaustive searches for good people while at the same time they inherently understand the necessity of keeping the bar raised by only adding the highest quality individual to their existing teams. Recruiting can no longer depend on simple net-working or broad-casting job availability, or promises of big money to motivate the highly qualified medical professionals that are required by manufacturers; novelties and gimmicks will not impress a product development manager, program analyst, sales professional or clinical support professional. Today’s medical environment calls for an even greater human sensitivity than ever before on the part of the individual recruiter. We must treat our prospects, not as numbers on a chart, but as individuals with valuable skills to contribute to the nation’s companies. Therefore, recruiting is and will continue to be a person-to-person process. The quality of the people recruited depends in the final analysis on the quality of the people who recruit them. Brava Medical is poised and prepared to bring the finest candidates in the country to these companies.”

Rosemary Penn, Managing Partner, with over 25 years experience and past national accounts manager with Sony Medical sees a similar trend with Brava Medical’s clients. “Each organization we talk to has a very unique personnel need in terms of hiring criteria, background checks, references, track record strength, and educational requirements. Therefore, it’s clear we can’t use a cookie-cutter approach to offering our services. It would never work to just forward resumes. Instead, we base our business around true, strategic partnerships that promotes free-flowing conversations between Brava Medical and client’s hiring managers that will ensure the finest candidates available for those open positions. This regular and on-going feedback allows us to respond quickly to new information that supports everyone’s strategic goals. Recruiting today relies as much on modern methods of salesmanship and personnel quality control as the companies depend on the latest advances in technology. To summarize, effective recruiters listen and heed client’s needs and keep them well informed about their progress in identifying and qualifying top candidates. In the end, we understand that many or our candidates will become employers searching to find members for their own staff.”

Ann Yost, Managing Partner, Operations adds “We want to provide our clients with not only excellent candidates, but to also share with them trends we observe throughout the country, such as salaries, perks, and any other data they need to help them build their teams. This regular and on-going feedback is important for both parties.”

Visit Brava Medical: www.BravaMedical.com

Wilmington, MA - ONI Medical Systems, Inc., announces three new appointments to its executive team; Paul Falvey to Chief Financial Officer; D. Bryce Fehr to Vice President of Sales and Corporate Accounts; and Richard Mallozzi, Ph.D., to MRI Physicist.

“We are thrilled to have attracted top talent to guide our financial, sales and research efforts, especially at such a critical time in our company’s growth,” said Peter Pellerito, CEO of ONI, who notes that the company has doubled its installed base in just the last two years, and has recently secured over $12 million in capital funding. “Together, Paul, Bryce and Richard are the ideal compliment to our existing team of seasoned industry veterans,” Pellerito adds.

Franklin & Seidelmann Adds 31 Subspecialty Radiologists to Support Growing Demand For Subspecialty Expertise

11/20/2007
CLEVELAND, OHIO – November 20, 2007 – Franklin & Seidelmann Subspecialty Radiology (F&S) has added 31 subspecialty radiologists to support the growing demand for subspecialty radiology expertise and secure its position as the industry’s largest subspecialty teleradiology network. F&S radiologists are musculoskeletal, body, cardiac, breast and pediatric imaging specialists and neuroradiologists with Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQs). Many on the team of more than 100 are industry experts and academic leaders, and collectively they have published more than 8,000 lectures and papers that have appeared in peer-reviewed medical journals and textbooks.

“While our organization certainly takes pride in our dramatic growth this past year, we are just as proud of the tremendous credentials our team of radiologists brings to our company,” said Dr. Peter Franklin, F&S medical director and co-founder. “Our primary focus is to provide the highest quality reports and services to our referring physicians, so we must hire only the very best subspecialists we can find, wherever they may live.”

Franklin said the F&S model is particularly attractive to subspecialists today, who often seek work environments where they can focus on their particular areas of specialty and collaborate with their peers on the most demanding cases. Many of the radiologists on the F&S team have academic positions at some of the leading teaching hospitals and utilize their experiences with F&S to gain access to challenging cases for training purposes.

“Prior to joining F&S, subspecialty radiologists must be board certified, have a minimum of three to five years of experience including academic experience and/or fellowship, have read a minimum of 10,000 studies within their subspecialty areas, are published, and are motivated to focus exclusively on their subspecialties,” Franklin said.

“Additionally, prior to joining F&S, all radiologists pass a specialty-specific test that assesses the ability of the radiologist to integrate the provided clinical and laboratory information, observe significant findings, and utilize their knowledge and experience to provide a report that is descriptive, definitive, has the appropriate differential diagnosis, is directive in the management of the patient, and follows the accepted format as proposed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria. As part of the F&S team, radiologists interpret cases only in their subspecialty areas, create reports according to a study-specific format, and participate in a rigorous QA program — all of which contribute to the F&S mission of delivering the highest quality radiology services available,” added Franklin.

F&S announces the subspecialty radiologists who have joined its staff in 2007:

Avinash Balkissoon, M.D. - Dr. Avinash Balkissoon is a musculoskeletal radiologist. He earned his Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Radiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI, and has served in academic settings, both at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Michigan.

Stephen Blum, M.D. - Dr. Stephen Blum has more than three decades experience in diagnostic radiology and has subspecialty expertise in neuroradiology with Certificate of Added Qualifications. While serving as a Major in the United States Air Force, Dr. Blum was the chief of radiology at Ehrling Berquist USAF Regional Hospital. Subsequent to this, he was an attending neuroradiologist for Mercy Hospital and Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Bradford Burton, M.D. - Dr. Bradford Burton is a subspecialist in neuroradiology with Certificate of Added Qualifications. He earned his Fellowship with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO. Dr. Burton has served as a diagnostic neuroradiologist for several organizations, most recently with Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Honolulu, HI.

Qi Chen, M.D. - Dr. Qi Chen is a subspecialist in musculoskeletal radiology. Dr. Chen completed his fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery at Cornell University. While completing his fellowship, Dr. Chen served as coach and consultant for the New York Junior Tennis League, conducting training sessions for tournament level junior players from the New York City area.

Ajay Choudhri, M.D. - Dr. Ajay Choudhri is a subspecialist in cardiac and body imaging. Dr. Choudhri is presently the medical director, director of CTA and director of PACS for the Capital Health Systems of Fuld and Mercer Hospitals in Trenton, NJ, and continues his work as an interventionalist.

Bernard Chow, M.D. - Dr. Bernard Chow has subspecialty expertise in musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Chow has served in many capacities at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA, including vice chairman of the Department of Radiology, section chief of musculoskeletal radiology, associate program director for its radiology residency and as attending staff radiologist.

Mark Decker, M.D. - Dr. Mark Decker, a musculoskeletal imaging specialist, served his Fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at Cornell’s Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Dr. Decker has served as director of musculoskeletal imaging with several organizations, including Long Island Bone & Joint, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology Group, and Metropolitan Diagnostic Imaging, all in New York.

Peter Glickman, M.D. - Dr. Peter Glickman is a musculoskeletal radiologist. Dr. Glickman completed his Fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and prior to that he served his Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA.

Donald Jackson, M.D. - Dr. Donald Jackson is a neuroradiologist with Certificate of Added Qualifications. He earned his Fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Jackson served as the chief of nuclear medicine for the David Grant U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base, CA.

Sanjay Jain, M.D. - Dr. Sanjay Jain is a body imaging specialist. Dr. Jain has completed fellowships in body imaging and in vascular interventional radiology. Dr. Jain most recently served as professor of radiology at The Ohio State University.

Ada Kumar, M.D. - Dr. Ada Kumar has subspecialty expertise in musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Kumar completed a Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She was formerly one of the primary readers for the NFL’s Chicago Bears and the Northwestern University Athletic teams.

Roger Lee, M.D. - Dr. Roger Lee is a musculoskeletal and body imaging specialist. Fellowship-trained in both subspecialties, Dr. Lee brings a wealth of expertise to the F&S team. He served his Fellowship in body imaging at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. His Fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging was earned with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Ross Levatter, M.D. - Dr. Ross Levatter is a body imaging specialist with a fellowship in Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Levatter was a founding partner of the radiology section of Bay Care Clinic and Bay Care Health System, a multi-specialty group that partnered with a hospital building company to joint venture a new medical center in Green Bay, WI.

Amy Liebeskind, M.D. - Dr. Amy Liebeskind is a subspecialty expert in musculoskeletal imaging. Her Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Radiology was with Javier Beltran, M.D., chairman of radiology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to her training with Dr. Beltran, Dr. Liebeskind was the associate medical director for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ.

Thomas MaGee, M.D. - Dr. Thomas Magee is a subspecialty expert in musculoskeletal imaging. Dr. Magee is currently the President of Central Florida Imaging Specialists. In addition to his numerous national publications and lectures, he has served as a board examiner for the musculoskeletal section of the American Board of Radiology.

Joy Masseaux, M.D. - Dr. Joy Masseaux is a body and pediatrics specialist. Dr. Masseaux conducted her Fellowship in pediatric radiology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has also served as assistant professor of radiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY.

Manesh Mathew, M.D. - Dr. Manesh Mathew is a subspecialty expert in musculoskeletal imaging, having trained under the direction of Javier Beltran, M.D., chairman of radiology for Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Mathew is an attending radiologist in the Musculoskeletal Division at Maimonides Medical Center.

Jinel Moore Scott, M.D. - Dr. Jinel Moore Scott is a musculoskeletal radiologist. Dr. Moore Scott was the chief resident radiologist at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She has received numerous honors and awards from many organizations.

Diane Newton, M.D. - Dr. Diane Newton is a neuroradiologist with Certificate of Added Qualifications. Fellowship trained in neuroradiology at the University of California, San Francisco, she subsequently served as director of neuroradiology at the San Francisco Magnetic Resonance Center in San Francisco, CA, and as staff neuroradiologist in high volume hospital-based practices in California and Idaho.

Kimberlee Overdeck, M.D. - Dr. Kimberlee Overdeck is a musculoskeletal MRI specialist with a decade of experience in diagnostic imaging. Dr. Overdeck served as an attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology and with Virginia Radiological Associates at the Virginia Hospital.

Copenhagen, Denmark (November 13, 2007): B-K Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), today announced the launch of the Pro Focus OR ultrasound system, the only fully featured Operating Room (OR) suite that works as an integrated part of the operating room.
The Pro Focus OR ultrasound system is designed to be a permanent part of the OR, mounted on the OR boom. The scanner’s flat-screen monitor and control panel are mounted on flexible arms that can be positioned for optimal utility. Surgeons can access the ultrasound capabilities they need during surgery quickly and easily.
Because the system is off the floor, the Pro Focus OR affords the OR staff their accustomed freedom of movement within the sterile area. The system’s simplicity also translates into a reduction in cleaning and preparation time, for quicker turnaround.
What further sets the Pro Focus OR apart from more conventional ultrasound systems is that it can accommodate the full range of dedicated surgical transducers. Compatible with the new, high-frequency 8814 intraoperative surgical biplane transducer and 8815 interventional transducer, the scanner provides unprecedented accuracy to interventional intraoperative ultrasound.
Michael Brock, B-K Medical’s President, said, “The Pro Focus OR is intended to take surgical ultrasound to a new level; it is designed for professionals and the OR of the future. With this system, we are not only able to offer hospitals and clinics the most advanced, dedicated surgical ultrasound system on the market today, but also a cost-effective way to configure and streamline their operating rooms.”
Featuring an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, the Pro Focus OR provides flexibility and excellent quality color imaging using the latest technology in signal processing. A unique contrast imaging package and seamlessly integrated 3-D are also available, making the system an invaluable tool for surgical decision-making and patient management.
Facts about B-K Medical
B-K Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG), specializes in the development and production of diagnostic ultrasound equipment. The company is recognized as a world leader in developing ultrasound scanners specially designed for surgery and for the investigation of urological disorders. The product line also includes scanners for other applications, such as gynecological examinations, fetal scanning, and radiology.
B-K Medical is represented in 60 countries, with subsidiary sales companies in the U.S., Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the U.K. An extensive network of distributors connects B-K Medical with Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the rest of the world. The company has 330 employees, 230 of whom are located in Denmark.
TERMS OF USE
© 2003 Analogic Corporation. All rights reserved

Sony is expanding its line of medical imaging technology with the new UP-D74XRD DICOM high-speed 8 x 10 monochrome digital imager.

Designed specifically for use with medical diagnostic imaging systems, the UP-D74XRD is ideal for use in ultrasound, mobile c-arm, and X-ray applications for hospitals, imaging centers, physicians’ or veterinarians’ offices.

“With its ability to output both film and paper at a high level of resolution, this new imager offers a flexible, cost-efficient option for medical professionals who need 8×10 multi-format capabilities,” said George Santanello, director of marketing for medical products at Sony Electronics.

The new imager uses a silent-print mechanism and can generate up to 90 high-resolution prints per hour (just a 40-second print time) for time-critical medical applications. The system automatically recognizes the media type being used and adjusts the gamma curve appropriately to reproduce a precise grayscale.

It features built-in DICOM and USB interfaces for use within a PACS network or for direct connection to a modality.

Front-panel LCD display controls and media loading help enable simple operation, while its lightweight, small design allows for tabletop operation or easy integration into a cart-based mobile system.

The UP-D74XRD imager uses Sony’s direct thermal printing technology to produce photo-quality prints with a superb image resolution of approximately 300 dpi. Its use of Sony dry-processing technology also eliminates the need for chemical waste disposal.

The UP-D74XRD digital imager is available now at a suggested list price of $7,995.

Terason Awarded Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation Award
Burlington, MA – December 20, 2007. Frost & Sullivan awarded Terason the Technology Innovation Award in the field of portable ultrasound systems for the development of two innovative systems called the Terason t3000™, the t3000 Echo™ system. The significance of the system lies in its best-in-class image quality and function that are comparable to the high-end cart-based ultrasound systems but only at a fraction of the price. They are the world’s only ultrasound system powered by an off the shelf commercial PC.

Award Recipient: Terason
The 2007 Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Innovation Award in the field of portable ultrasound systems is conferred upon Terason, a division of Teratech Corporation based at Burlington, MA, for the development of two innovative systems called the Terason t3000™, the t3000 Echo™ system. The significance of the system lies in its best-in-class image quality and function that are comparable to the high-end cart-based ultrasound systems but only at a fraction of the price. They are the world’s only ultrasound system powered by an off the shelf commercial PC.

Premium image quality, seamless network capability and significantly lower cost than premium cart based systems consist of two key components a system-on-chip engine and an off the shelf MacBook PC. An array of transducers easily connected to the systems allows clinicians to performance any ultrasound exam at the point of patient care anywhere. This simple approach allows greater flexibility and more rapid development to continuously improve image quality, workflow and lowers cost at the same time. The PC open architecture allows easy future enhancements and updates for investment protection.

Over the years the sizes of the Integrated Circuit chips have shrunk exponentially. Now the size of an IC is thinner than a piece of human hair. This advancement allows Terason unique patented system-on-chip to integrate significant more channels and more functionality on the same foot print. As a result, Terason imaging systems continue to improving its spatial and temporal resolution and the overall image quality. Combined with back end PC signal processing, the advancement has enabled real-time Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) tools on a portable handheld system.

In addition to brining high end image quality to an off the shelf commercial Mac Book PC, Terason’s patented system-on-chip technology running with Windows applications, enables images, loops, and reports to be easily transferred to standard word-processing and presentation software applications with cut-and-paste simplicity for medical reports, clinical or scientific presentations and research. The wireless and Ethernet connectivity are built in. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) export and integration with voice command is seamless. One Button™ optimization simplifies the beginning of each exam by automatically adjusting a wide variety of ultrasound imaging controls such as time gain compensation (TGC). During the exam, routine tasks are accomplished with a single keystroke, as opposed to using multiple knobs and sliders and touch screens on a standard ultrasound system.

Terason’s PC-based design supports shared-memory direct communication with other applications running on the same computer; as a result, it is extremely easy and fast to embed Terason ultrasound application into MRI, CT, Angiogram or any other imaging modality for real time imaging without exposing patients to extended radiation. Terason has successfully embedded its ultrasound solution into radiation therapy planning, angiography image-guided conventional and noninvasive surgery, and image-guided therapeutic treatments. Terason partners include NOMOS, Siemens, BrainLab, Endocare, and ACS.

Terason has more than 36 granted patents, and many more patent applications with extensive coverage on all ultrasound-related functions and applications. Terason is the company to receive the first patents on portable ultrasound, software-based scan conversion, software-based Doppler processing, PC-based ultrasound architecture, integrated 2D-array for real-time 3D/4D ultrasound etc.

About Terason
Terason is the innovator and world’s leader in integrating patented ultrasound microsystem technology with a commercial laptop. This unique system-on-chip architecture provides high performance and cost effective ultrasound solution to the point of patient care, and enables other imaging suppliers to embed it into their technology. Terason is entrusted by thousands of clinicians and partners throughout the world for ultrasound diagnosis and interventional guidance.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Consulting Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company’s Growth Partnership Services, Growth Consulting and Career Best Practices empower clients to create a growth focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

Contact:
Terason
Grace Palma
VP, Marketing
(781) 270-4143 ext. 1043

In 1995 a survey was conducted in the US and Canada to determine the extent of injuries suffered by sonographers in the performance of daily routine.

The response to that survey was dramatic showing an 84% injury rate among practicing sonographers. In the last 12 years people from hospitals, schools and industry have joined together to combat this career threatening problem.

Sound Ergonomics feels that it is time to update those survey results to see what improvements have been made and where we still have work to do, but we need your help. Please sign up for our 2008 symptom survey. We encourage everyone to participate in order to get the most accurate information.

Please go to: www.soundergonomics.com and click on the survey link.
Be sure to include your e-mail address to be to be entered in our drawing for Apple Video I-pod!

Sound Ergonomics
January 8,2008

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cone Instruments Releases New Radiology Catalog

Solon, OH (January 2, 2008) Cone Instruments, a worldwide provider of medical imaging supplies, accessories, equipment and service, is issuing the 22nd volume of its popular Radiology Catalog for 2008.

Cone Instruments distributes medical imaging products worldwide through the use of a direct sales force, dealer networks, telemarketing, the Internet, and through its widely recognized product catalogs. The 2008 Radiology Catalog features 1881 different products with over 30 pages of new items.

From Patrick C. Beck, President and CEO: “It is a pleasure to present you with the 22nd volume of Cone Instruments’ Radiology Catalog for 2008. Cone Instruments has been able to successfully serve the imaging community for over 30 years. The most important key to that success is the loyalty of more than 6000 customers worldwide. As long as you continue to value doing business with a partner that offers competitive prices, a comprehensive product line and personalized service, Cone Instruments will be here for you.”

Operating in one of the largest and most competitive arenas in the healthcare industry, Cone Instruments has carved out a successful and well-earned reputation for service to the medical imaging community.

About Cone Instruments:
Founded in 1976, Cone Instruments is a worldwide provider of medical imaging supplies, accessories, equipment and service with focus on the Radiology, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine modalities. Cone Instruments’ corporate office is located in Solon, Ohio. To order a Catalog or for more information visit www.coneinstruments.com.

For additional information contact: Inna Vaytsman at 440-248-1035 or inna@coneinstruments.com

To many people, it’s simply sound. But to knowledgeable medical professionals, high-frequency sound and sonography skill can be the difference between a faulty diagnosis and outstanding patient care. Medical professionals known as diagnostic medical sonographers (or sonographers) are responsible for producing ultrasound images used to diagnose a variety of maladies, diseases, and conditions. Sonography is now commonly used in most medical specialties. More than 80% of sonographers who perform these vital diagnostic scans work in pain as a result of work-related musculoskeletal injury (MSI), and 20% of these health care professionals eventually experience an injury that ends their career.*

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide for the safety of all workers, and the Joint Commission underscores this for health care workers. Joint Commission Management of the Environment of Care standard EC.1.10 requires health care organizations to manage safety risks; furthermore, element of performance 5 (EP) mandates that health care organizations implement control measures to achieve the lowest potential for adverse impact based on the risks identified to the safety and health of staff.

Jerry Gervais, C.H.S.P., C.H.F.M., associate director, Standards Interpretation Group, Joint Commission, points out that each hospital’s safety committee is responsible for evaluating the employer’s OSHA injury log, analyzing and assessing those injuries, and recommending to the governing board how the hospital can prevent or mitigate recurrence of such injuries. “So many experienced sonographers are incurring injuries and dropping out of the work force that it’s having a negative impact on the field of medical sonography,” he says. “There’s a personnel shortage to begin with, and it’s getting critical as more and more sonographers are unable to continue working. Hospitals must do whatever they can to make sure that workers don’t continue experiencing these injuries.”

OSHA and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) signed a formal alliance in Washington, DC, in October 2004 to reduce and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD). The goal of this alliance is to provide SDMS members and others within the medical community the tools and resources they need to reduce and prevent exposure to risks related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: How Do They Get Hurt?
Sonographers must have full use of hands, wrists, and shoulders, and they face a daunting list of physical demands in their typically full patient schedules.

They must be able to routinely do the following:

• Lift more than 30 pounds
• Push and pull
• Bend and stoop
• Work standing on their feet at least 80% of the time
• Assist patients on and off examining tables

In addition, sonographers must be able to do the
following:

• Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
• Distinguish subtle sounds
• Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
• Apply ultrasound transducers at angles and pressure appropriate to produce optimal images of patient anatomy
• Interact compassionately and effectively with sick and injured patients
• Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals

The requirements of their work mean that sonographers are exposed to a variety of environmental factors that are associated with increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Among the injuries sonographers face are the following:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome can result from gripping the transducer too firmly or in an awkward position as they hold it against the patient to obtain an image. Other common conditions of the hand and wrist include trigger finger, along with pain, swelling, and inflammation of the tendons at the base of the thumb, a condition known as deQuervain’s syndrome.
• Pain and strain in the neck, back, and shoulder can be caused by reaching with either or both arms and/or twisting of the neck and trunk while attempting to reach the patient. These awkward postures result in tenosynovitis, shoulder bursitis, tennis or golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff tears, degenerative disc disease, and a variety of other conditions. Another common injury is thoracic outlet syndrome, a collection of syndromes brought about by abnormal compression of the neurovascular bundle.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome is often the result of extrinsic pressure on the cubital tunnel region of the elbow from faulty workstation equipment.
• Eye strain can result from defective workstation equipment or improper use of workstation equipment.

Recommendations from an Expert
The founder of the SDMS is Joan P. Baker, M.S.R., R.D.M.S., R.D.C.S., F.S.D.M.S. Baker is also director of marketing and a founding partner of Sound Ergonomics, LLC, in Kenmore, Washington. She has worked in the field of ultrasound since 1961 and has 39 years’ experience within the profession. She served as the first chair of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, the largest national registry for sonographers, and is a leading expert in the expanding field of sonographer MSI.

In the following paragraphs, Baker offers several recommendations on ways health care organizations can work to reduce the number of injuries sustained by diagnostic medical sonographers.

The training that new sonographers get should be revised to include ergonomics. “We must include newer techniques of sonography in schools,” says Baker. “And we’re also working to help experienced sonographers realize that some of the techniques they learned in school will result in injuries. Without this retraining, seasoned sonographers will pass on those same injury-producing techniques to new students.” Joint Commission Management of Human Resources standard HR.2.10 requires that organizations provide initial job training and information. During orientation, an organization should cover the following information:

• Organization mission and goals
  (HR.2.10, EP 1)
• Policies and procedures, including
  those related to safety and infection
  control (HR.2.10, EP 2)
• Specific job duties and responsibilities
  (HR.2.10, EP 3)

“For sonographers, information about musculoskeletal injury risk, prevention strategies, and administration support would certainly be required safety information,” says Baker.

Baker notes that many health care organizations have not yet equipped sonographers with the tools they need to work without injuring themselves. A variety of ergonomic support and educational items are available to protect sonographers. “The field of sonography must find a better way to communicate with hospital and departmental administrators and let them know which tools and equipment will help prevent injuries,” she says. As an example, Baker cites the need for tables on which sonographers can make almost any kind of height adjustment. “A well-made adjustable table costs approximately $7,000,” says Baker. “While that might seem expensive, one week’s work by a sonographer can more than pay for that outlay, which is a one-time capital investment. It’s really not expensive compared to the revenue-generating capability of approximately $33,000 per month for one sonographer.”

Sonographers themselves must assume responsibility for staying informed about the risks they face as sonographers, and they must use the ergonomic equipment that is provided for them. “All the latest and greatest equipment in the world won’t do them any good if they don’t use it,” says Baker.