New trends in ultrasound imaging: image fusion

This year's ECR in Vienna saw ultrasound become the next medical imaging medium to follow the
trend of image fusion.

Image fusion is the integration of real-time ultrasound images with those obtained through CT
and MRI. Very popular in the world of radiology, image fusion has rarely be applied in ultrasound, given the difficulties involved in both preparation and practice.

This technology was even further from the world of veterinary ultrasound, as conventional
methods have required that patients lie absolutely still - clearly not possible in the veterinary ultrasound world without the use of heavy sedation.

New technologies developed by Siemen's, however, means that both scanning ease and speed are now significantly increased. These technological advances are in large part drawn from developments made in the computer gaming industry, which increase data processing speeds and enhance image quality.

It is highly likely that image fusion will make significant inroads into the human ultrasound market* within the next few years, becoming commonplace by 2015.

* For more information on how this will filter down to the veterinary market, please see the Vet Image Solutions news blog.