Evaluation: Siemens Freestyle Portable Ultrasound Scanner
June 15, 2016 | Evaluations & Guidance
Preview
- The Freestyle is a portable ultrasound scanner that is marketed for interventional guidance applications, including intraoperative imaging, and provides the following:
- B-mode imaging
- Color Doppler imaging (CDI)
- Power Doppler imaging (PDI)
- Enhanced-needle-visualization software
- The Freestyle supports wireless transducers (listed below in the Transducers Supported by the Freestyle and Their Clinical Applications table).
- Bluetooth 2.0 technology is used for bidirectional data communication with the scanner.
- Only one transducer can be active at a time.
- Wireless connectivity is up to a distance of 3 m (10 ft).
- Operation requires an unobstructed line of sight between the transducer and console.
- The wireless signal transmits data in a proprietary format that is secure. The data contains no patient identifiers and can be processed only by the Freestyle console.
- Once a connection is established between the transducer and console, the wireless signal is not discoverable by other Bluetooth devices.
- A transducer localization feature emits beeps if the distance between the transducer and console is greater than that normally used for scanning.
- The scanner displays a message on the screen instructing the user to locate and secure the transducer.
- If the console is turned off but a transducer is still active, the transducer will emit beeps to alert the user to its location.
- One transducer at a time can be connected to the scanner with a cable.
- The Freestyle console has the following characteristics:
- Dimensions: 37.3 × 33. 5 × 12.1 cm (15 × 13.2 × 4.8 in); weight: 4.8 kg (10.5 lb)
- Components: (1) A 38.1 cm (15 in), wide-viewing-angle LCD, which is used to display:
- The ultrasound image
- Patient identification
- Date and time
- User-adjustable control labels
- Active image parameter settings